Plasma Viral Loads During Early HIV-1 Infection Are Similar in Subtype C- and Non-Subtype C-Infected African Seroconverters.
Campbell, Mary S. 1; Kahle, Erin M. 2,3; Celum, Connie 1,2,3; Lingappa, Jairam R. 1,3,4; Kapiga, Saidi 7; Mujugira, Andrew 3; Mugo, Nelly R. 3; Fife, Kenneth H. 8; Mullins, James I. 1,5,6; Baeten, Jared M. 1,2,3; for the Partners in Prevention HSVHIV Transmission Study Team /; Celum, Connie; Wald, Anna; Lingappa, Jairam; Baeten, Jared M.; Campbell, Mary S.; Corey, Lawrence; Coombs, Robert W.; Hughes, James P.; Magaret, Amalia; McElrath, M. Juliana; Morrow, Rhoda; Mullins, James I.; Coetzee, David; Fife, Kenneth; Were, Edwin; Essex, Max; Makhema, Joseph; Katabira, Elly; Ronald, Allan; Allen, Susan; Kayitenkore, Kayitesi; Karita, Etienne; Bukusi, Elizabeth; Cohen, Craig; Allen, Susan; Kanweka, William; Allen, Susan; Vwalika, Bellington; Kapiga, Saidi; Manongi, Rachel; Farquhar, Carey; John-Stewart, Grace; Kiarie, James; Allen, Susan; Inambao, Mubiana; Farm, Orange; Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead; Rees, Helen; de Bruyn, Guy; Gray, Glenda; McIntyre, James; Mugo, Nelly Rwamba
[Article] Journal of Infectious Diseases. 207(7):1166-1170, April 1, 2013.

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Recent data suggest that infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C results in prolonged high-level viremia (>5 log10 copies/mL) during early infection. We examined the relationship between HIV-1 subtype and plasma viremia among 153 African seroconverters. Mean setpoint viral loads were similar for C and non-C subtypes: 4.36 vs 4.42 log10 copies/mL (P = .61). The proportion of subtype C-infected participants with viral loads >5 log10 copies/mL was not greater than the proportion for those with non-C infection. Our data do not support the hypothesis that higher early viral load accounts for the rapid spread of HIV-1 subtype C in southern Africa.

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