Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Weninger, K.
Identification of HIV-1 transmission clusters in Southeastern Austria by phylogenetic analysis.
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2016. pp.
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Kessler Harald
- Stelzl Evelyn
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Although the awareness of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is rising on population level, the number of newly-infected persons per year continues to be high in Southeastern Austria. Therefore, deeper insight in the epidemiology of HIV-1 transmission in Southeast Austria is necessary to elaborate targeted prevention programs. Objectives: Aim of this study was to reconstruct the HIV-1 transmission network in Southeastern Austria. Demographic data, risk factors for HIV-1 infection, and HIV-1 subtypes were compared between individuals who clustered within the transmission network and those who did not cluster within the transmission network. Material and Methods: Partial HIV-1 pol sequences obtained from 259 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV infection from 2008 through 2014 and found to reside in Southeastern Austria were analyzed for genetic relatedness. A putative transmission linkage between two sequences was established if a genetic distance of <1.5% was found. Results: Analysis revealed that 45.6% of the sequences were genetically linked to at least one other sequence. Therefore 34 putative transmission clusters were identified. Clustering individuals were more likely to be men having sex with men (MSM, P<0.001), and infected with subtype B (P=0.003) or subtype F (P<0.033). Among the clustering males reporting heterosexual (HSX) transmission as their only risk for HIV-1 infection, 47% cluster closely with MSM. Conclusion: A high degree of clustering was found. The high amount of males that reported HSX transmission as their only risk for HIV-1 infection but clusters closely to MSM suggests either missing individuals in the transmission network linking these individuals or misrepresentation of sexual risk behaviors by individuals.