Human cytomegalovirus infection among treatment-naive HIV-1 infected patients in Ethiopia

Mulugeta Kiros; Alene Geteneh; Henok Andualem; Derbie Alemu; Abebech Tesfaye; Dessalegne Abeje Tefera; Adane Mihret; Dawit Hailu Alemayehu; Andargachew Mulu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247264

Human cytomegalovirus infection among treatment-naive HIV-1 infected patients in Ethiopia

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 18;16(2):e0247264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247264. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mulugeta Kiros¹, Alene Geteneh², Henok Andualem¹, Derbie Alemu³, Abebech Tesfaye⁴, Dessalegne Abeje Tefera⁴, Adane Mihret⁴, Dawit Hailu Alemayehu⁴, Andargachew Mulu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
² Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Arba Minch College of Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
⁴ Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Subclinical human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication is associated with immune dysfunction in immuno-suppressed antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive HIV infected individuals. No data is documented in Ethiopia so far concerning HCMV co-infection among HIV infected individuals. Hence, this study was aimed at generating data regarding the prevalence of active HCMV infection among treatment-naive HIV-infected individuals from Ethiopia. For this purpose, we enrolled 97 treatment-naive HIV infected study subjects in Addis Ababa from June to December 2018. ELISA and conventional PCR were performed consecutively to detect HCMV specific IgM antibody and HCMV DNA respectively. Of the 97 study subjects, 12 (12.4%) were positive for anti-CMV IgM antibodies but were not confirmed by PCR. With regard to the PCR positivity, 4/97 (4.1%) samples were positive for HCMV DNA. No statically significant associations were found between the dependent and independent variables. The presence of HCMV DNA in the current study highlights the need for a routine laboratory diagnosis for preventing HCMV disease among HIV-infected individuals early. Besides, the use of anti-CMV therapy for these CMV viremic individuals is also recommended as this can reduce the burden of CMV complications and consecutively prolonging the life of HIV infected individuals.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Antibodies, Viral / metabolism*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Cytomegalovirus / genetics
Cytomegalovirus / immunology
Cytomegalovirus / physiology*
Cytomegalovirus Infections / epidemiology*
Cytomegalovirus Infections / virology
DNA, Viral / genetics*
Ethiopia / epidemiology
Female
HIV Infections / epidemiology*
HIV Infections / immunology
HIV Infections / virology
HIV-1 / physiology
Humans
Immunoglobulin M / metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Viral Load
Young Adult

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
DNA, Viral
Immunoglobulin M

Grants and funding

This research project was funded by the Armauer Hansen Research Institute. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.