Increasing Frequency and Transmission of HIV-1 Non-B Subtypes Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Abstract Background In Switzerland, HIV-1 transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been dominated by subtype B, whilst non-B subtypes are commonly attributed to infections acquired abroad among heterosexuals. Here, we evaluated the temporal trends of non-B subtypes and the characterist...

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Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2022-01, Vol.225 (2), p.306-316
Main Authors: Duran Ramirez, Jessy J, Ballouz, Tala, Nguyen, Huyen, Kusejko, Katharina, Chaudron, Sandra E, Huber, Michael, Hirsch, Hans H, Perreau, Matthieu, Ramette, Alban, Yerly, Sabine, Cavassini, Matthias, Stöckle, Marcel, Furrer, Hansjakob, Vernazza, Pietro, Bernasconi, Enos, Günthard, Huldrych F, Kouyos, Roger D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cohort analysis
Cohort Studies
Disease transmission
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Epidemiology
Gays & lesbians
HIV
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - transmission
HIV Infections - virology
HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology
HIV-1 - classification
HIV-1 - genetics
HIV-1 - isolation & purification
Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Male
Mens health
Molecular biology
Molecular Epidemiology
Phylogeny
Prospective Studies
Public health
Switzerland - epidemiology
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Summary:Abstract Background In Switzerland, HIV-1 transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been dominated by subtype B, whilst non-B subtypes are commonly attributed to infections acquired abroad among heterosexuals. Here, we evaluated the temporal trends of non-B subtypes and the characteristics of molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) among MSM. Methods Sociodemographic and clinical data and partial pol sequences were obtained from participants enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. For non-B subtypes, maximum likelihood trees were constructed, from which Swiss MTCs were identified and analyzed by transmission group. Results Non-B subtypes were identified in 8.1% (416/5116) of MSM participants. CRF01_AE was the most prevalent strain (3.5%), followed by subtype A (1.2%), F (1.1%), CRF02_AG (1.1%), C (0.9%), and G (0.3%). Between 1990 and 2019, an increase in the proportion of newly diagnosed individuals (0/123 [0%] to 11/32 [34%]) with non-B subtypes in MSM was found. Across all non-B subtypes, the majority of MSM MTCs were European. Larger MTCs were observed for MSM than heterosexuals. Conclusions We found a substantial increase in HIV-1 non-B subtypes among MSM in Switzerland and the occurrence of large MTCs, highlighting the importance of molecular surveillance in guiding public health strategies targeting the HIV-1 epidemic. The proportion of MSM with newly diagnosed HIV-1 non-B subtypes has strongly increased since 1990, reaching 34% of all MSM diagnosed in 2019. This is partly due to ongoing local transmission in this population, as evidenced by large transmission clusters.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiab360