Incidence of HIV‐1 Dual Infection and Its Association with Increased Viral Load Set Point in a Cohort of HIV‐1 Subtype C–Infected Female Sex Workers

Jandre Grobler, Clive M. Gray, Cecilia Rademeyer, Cathal Seoighe, Gita Ramjee, Salim Abdool Karim, Lynn Morris, Carolyn Williamson
2004 Journal of Infectious Diseases  
This longitudinal study aimed to determine the incidence and pathogenic implications of dual human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in a cohort of female sex workers. Blood samples from 31 recently infected women were screened by use of a heteroduplex mobility assay and sequencing. The median viral load set point was 5404 copies/ mL ( ), which was measured by use of the bDNA assay. n p 22 Within 3 months of infection, 19% (6/31) of the women were dually infected with 2 distinct
more » ... V-1 subtype C viruses. No evidence of superinfection was detected over the course of 24 months of follow-up, indicating that the risk of dual infection is highest around the time of the initial infection. There was a significant association between dual infection and elevated viral load set point.
doi:10.1086/423940 pmid:15346349 fatcat:265r6niqebf6dfpqgvdvdqyydu