HIV-1 subtypes in injecting drug users & their non-injecting wives in Manipur, India.

The presence of HIV-1 antibodies was determined among the injecting drug users (IDUs) and their non-injecting wives. A total of 233 (72%) were found to be HIV-1 seropositive among the 322 subjects recruited in this study between August, 1996 and September, 1997. The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes among the injecting drug users (IDUs) and their wives was determined using peptide enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Sexual transmission of HIV-1 occurred frequently (45%) from HIV-1 infected IDUs to their spouses. The majority of the subjects (167/233) were infected with subtype C followed by subtype Thai B (29/233). Subtype C was the most common among both IDUs (78%) and their wives (57%), followed by subtype Thai B (12% and 13% respectively). The distribution of subtypes was significantly different between IDUs and their wives with a lower percentage of subtype C and higher percentage of subtype D in the infected wives (P < 0.03). Discordance for subtypes transmitted from IDUs to their wives suggests the occurrence of dual and/or recombinant infection in the IDUs.

Prevalence of HCV & HBV infection amongst HIV seropositive intravenous drug users & their non-injecting wives in Manipur, India.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections were evaluated among 77 Manipuri couples of whom all husbands were both intravenous drug users (IDUs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. This study showed for the first time a high prevalence of HCV (92%) and HBV (100%) infection amongst the IDUs in Manipur. Stringent control measures to prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses (B and C) are urgently required in Manipur.

High risk behavior related to HIV transmission among recently diagnosed TB patients in Jakarta.

This study investigated the demographic and high risk behavior characteristics among recently diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged 18-40 years old in Jakarta, Indonesia. Three hundred and four participants were recruited voluntarily from two general hospitals. Among the study population, 38.5% were unemployed, 69.7% were in low socio-economic condition, and 69.7% had a high school or higher level of education. About 8% had received a transfusion, 0.3% were intravenous drug users (IVDU) and had sex with other IVDU's no males admitted to being homosexual, 3.2% of males were bisexual, 20.1% (35.5% of males, 4% of females) engaged in extramarital heterosexual intercourse, and 3.6% (7.1% of males) had one or more sexually transmitted diseases (STD). We found very strong associations between gender and extramarital heterosexual activity (p < 0.001, prevalence odds ratio (POR 13.11), between occupation and extramarital heterosexual activity (p < 0.001, POR 3.84), and between extramarital heterosexual contact and a history of an STD (p < 0.001, POR 20.86). High risk activities were common among these TB patients, especially among males. These results suggests that the necessary social conditions for transmission of HIV are common in Jakarta.