ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are often associated with the reactivation of a herpes virus infection. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is usually common in childhood infections that remain latent and can act as opportunists during immunosuppression to reactivate and cause disease. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, the impact of HHV-6 infection can be an up-regulator of HIV replication and accelerate progress towards AIDS. However, studies on HHV-6 infection have never been done in Surabaya, Indonesia. PURPOSE: To determine the presence of HHV-6 infection among HIV-infected individuals residing in Surabaya, Indonesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 85 HIV-infected individuals in Universitas Airlangga Hospital, Surabaya, as well as 85 healthy controls. DNA extracted from PBMCs was subjected to PCR to determine HHV-6 infection, while plasma of HIV-infected individuals was used for viral RNA quantification using real-time PCR. RESULTS: HHV-6 infection was detected in 17.6% (15/85) of HIV-infected individuals, and in 3.53% (3/85) of healthy controls. Thus, HHV-6 infection was more likely to be found in HIV-infected individuals than in healthy controls (odds ratio 5.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-21). The HHV-6B was the most common subtype identified in both HIV-infected individuals (12/15) and healthy controls (3/3). The HHV-6A and co-infection between HHV-6A and HHV-6B were only found in HIV-infected individuals (2/15 and 1/15, respectively). Viral RNA load of HIV-infected individuals was not correlated to HHV-6 infection. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate the emergence of HHV-6 infection among HIV-infected individuals residing in Surabaya, Indonesia, and the risk of HHV-6 infection was higher in HIV-infected individuals than in healthy controls.
ABSTRACT
Bali, the first province to report a case of HIV in 1987, was placed sixth among Indonesian provinces with the highest cumulative number of HIV cases in 2017. As a popular tourist destination, the spread of genetic variants of HIV through international travel may become a cause for concern in Bali. Tourism is mostly concentrated in south Bali; thus, HIV in less popular regions in north Bali, such as Buleleng Regency, may have viral characteristics different from that in south Bali. Forty-three protease (PR), 40 reverse transcriptase (RT), 27 gag, and 23 env genes were sequenced from 48 samples derived from antiretroviral treatment-experienced individuals. Subtyping revealed CRF01_AE as the dominant circulating recombinant form of HIV-1 in north Bali. Although no major mutation was detected in PR genes, several major mutations were identified in 4 out of the 40 RT genes (10%), indicating the emergence of HIV-1 drug resistance in this region.
