GB virus C and HIV-1 RNA load in single virus and co-infected West African individuals

Abstract

Investigations on the impact of GB virus C (GBV-C) co-infection on HIV disease progression relied essentially on clinical follow-up but not on wolog1c parameters. Objectives: To detect and quantify GBV-C RNA in West African populations co infected or not with HIV-1 and to correlate the RNA load of HIV-1 and GBV-C in co-replicating patients with different clinical conditions. Methods: Three Gha naian populations "(blood donors, pregnant women and HIV­ mfected pat1ents) were subdivided into six groups according to HIV-1 and clinica l status and GBV-C and HIV-1 RNA load was tested by quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In one population with HIV-1 disease, CD4• cell count was also measured. Results: Prevalence of GBV-C markers in HIV-1-infected groups and HIV-1 non­ infl-'Cted pregnant women were significantly higher than in healthy blood donors. Similar levels and distribution of GBV-C RNA load were found m each population Irrespective oi HIV-l status except for a lower GBV-C RNA load in AIDS patients. There was a significant shift of HIV-1 load towards lower value when GBV -C RNA was present and a trend towards an inverse correlation between HIV-l and GBV-C RNA load. A po itive correlation between CD4+ cell count and GBV-C RNA load in symptomatic HIV-1-infected patients was observed. Conclusions: The moderate impact of GBV-C on HIV-1 viremia is unlikely to entirely account for a favourable clmical outcome of replicating co-infections.