Open AccessPrenatal Transmission of Subtype C HIV-1 in Zimbabwe: HIV-1 RNA and DNA in Maternal and Cord Blood
Author(s) -
Hugo Guevara,
Elizabeth Johnston,
Lynn S. Zijenah,
Ocean Tobaiwa,
P. Mason,
Christopher H. Contag,
Kassam Mahomed,
Michael T. Hendry,
David Katzenstein
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.162
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1944-7884
pISSN - 1525-4135
DOI - 10.1097/00042560-200012150-00002
Subject(s) - rna , cord blood , viremia , virology , heteroduplex , biology , virus , cord , lentivirus , transmission (telecommunications) , dna , viral disease , immunology , medicine , genetics , gene , surgery , electrical engineering , engineering
Maternal and cord samples from HIV-seropositive women and their infants in Zimbabwe, where subtype C is the predominant strain of HIV, were analyzed to determine the frequency of detection of HIV RNA and DNA. HIV RNA was detected in 90% of maternal and in 38% of cord plasma at levels at least 25% of maternal plasma. Heteroduplex mobility assays and sequencing of virus envelope (C2-V5) demonstrated closely related, but unique, subtype C viruses in maternal and cord RNA, and a significantly greater frequency of cord viremia among women with homogenous, compared with heterogeneous viral envelope RNA. Quantification of RNA, measures of envelope viral diversity, and phylogenetic analysis of maternal and cord plasma RNA provide evidence for the frequent exposure and potential transmission of HIV from mother to infant before birth.