Janet Gare1, Claire E Ryan2, Matthew David3, Diana Timbi3, Petronia Kaima4, Zure Kombati5, Ulato Imara6, Angela Kelly-Hanku7, Peter M Siba3, Suzanne M Crowe8, Anna C Hearps8. 1. Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia jgare@burnet.edu.au. 2. Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 4. HIV/STI Highlands Region, National Department of Health, Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 5. Pathology Department, Mt Hagen General Hospital, Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 6. Michael Alpers Clinic, Goroka General Hospital, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 7. Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 8. Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The optimal benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be compromised by the emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) resulting in treatment failure. ART was introduced in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2004, yet biological data on HIVDR are lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate levels of HIVDR in ART-naive and -experienced patients in PNG. METHODS: We recruited, interviewed and collected blood from 108 ART-naive and 102 ART-experienced patients from two Highlands provinces of PNG. Dried blood spots were tested for HIVDR from all patients with detectable plasma viral load of ≥200 copies/mL using established in-house assays. RESULTS: The PCR amplification success was 90.6% (n = 96) and 66.7% (n = 12) using dried blood spots from ART-naive and -experienced patients, respectively. Transmitted drug resistance was detected in 2.1% (n = 2) of samples from ART-naive patients; acquired drug resistance was detected in 50% (n = 6) of samples from ART-experienced individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that transmitted drug resistance in PNG is low and acquired drug resistance is higher with 12.7% of the ART-experienced patients failing treatment. As ART access is rapidly expanding in PNG, monitoring of drug resistance is paramount for early detection of treatment failure.
OBJECTIVES: The optimal benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) can be compromised by the emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) resulting in treatment failure. ART was introduced in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2004, yet biological data on HIVDR are lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate levels of HIVDR in ART-naive and -experienced patients in PNG. METHODS: We recruited, interviewed and collected blood from 108 ART-naive and 102 ART-experienced patients from two Highlands provinces of PNG. Dried blood spots were tested for HIVDR from all patients with detectable plasma viral load of ≥200 copies/mL using established in-house assays. RESULTS: The PCR amplification success was 90.6% (n = 96) and 66.7% (n = 12) using dried blood spots from ART-naive and -experienced patients, respectively. Transmitted drug resistance was detected in 2.1% (n = 2) of samples from ART-naive patients; acquired drug resistance was detected in 50% (n = 6) of samples from ART-experienced individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that transmitted drug resistance in PNG is low and acquired drug resistance is higher with 12.7% of the ART-experienced patients failing treatment. As ART access is rapidly expanding in PNG, monitoring of drug resistance is paramount for early detection of treatment failure.
Authors: Shan-Estelle Brown; Panagiotis Vagenas; Kelika A Konda; Jesse L Clark; Javier R Lama; Pedro Gonzales; Jorge Sanchez; Ann C Duerr; Frederick L Altice Journal: Am J Mens Health Date: 2015-03-17
Authors: Janet Gare; Angela Kelly-Hanku; Claire E Ryan; Matthew David; Petronia Kaima; Ulato Imara; Namarola Lote; Suzanne M Crowe; Anna C Hearps Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-08-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Evelyn Lavu; Ellan Kave; Euodia Mosoro; Jessica Markby; Eman Aleksic; Janet Gare; Imogen A Elsum; Gideon Nano; Petronia Kaima; Nick Dala; Anup Gurung; Silvia Bertagnolio; Suzanne M Crowe; Mark Myatt; Anna C Hearps; Michael R Jordan Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 3.240