Abstract

EYER-SILVA, Walter A; BELLO, Gonzalo  and  MORGADO, Mariza G. Molecular evidence that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 dissemination in a small Brazilian city was already taking place in the early 1990s. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 2007, vol.102, n.5, pp. 647-649. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762007000500018.

We recently performed a molecular epidemiology survey of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in Miracema, a small city in Southeast Brazil, and found multiple monophyletic clusters, consistent with independent introductions and spread of different viral lineages in the city. Here we apply Bayesian coalescent-based methods to the two largest subtype B clusters and estimate that the most recent common ancestors that gave rise to these two transmission chains were in circulation around 1991-1992. The finding that HIV-1 spread in this Brazilian small city was already taking place at a time Aids was considered a problem restricted to large urban centers may have important public health implications.

Keywords : Aids; epidemiology; human immunodeficiency virus type 1; Brazil.