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257 Update on AIDS Vaccine Trials Related-Research in Argentina
M. Weissenbacher*1, H. Salomón1, M. Avila2, J. Benetucci2, P. Cahn2, O. Fay2, B. Lasala2, M. Losso2, S. Maulen2, G. Reboredo2, L. Peralta2, and M. Saracco2
1Natl. Reference Ctr. for AIDS, SIDA, Univ. of Buenos Aires Sch. of Med., Argentina and 2the Argentinean Group for HIV Vaccines (AGHV)
Background: Argentina has a growing epidemic of HIV infection, with a total of 18,925 reported AIDS cases through March 2001 and an estimated 130,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS. The epidemic has increasingly spread to women; the male/female ratio has declined from 13:1 in the 1980s to 3.3:1 currently. Basic and clinical scientists and NGOs have formed the AGHV to assess the potential for inclusion of investigators, NGOs, and high-risk MSM, heterosexual, and IDU populations in international HIV vaccine trials. The purpose of this presentation is to update information on HIV vaccine trials related-research in Argentina, particularly seroprevalence studies in at-risk populations.
Methods: Seroprevalence studies in 3 vulnerable populations in Buenos Aires city and surroundings were carried out from March 2000 through March 2001.
Female Sex Workers (FSW): In collaboration with the Argentinean Women Sex Workers Association, 420 FSWs were recruited.
Men who have Sex with Men (MSM): the research was done with an MSM NGO, and 828 volunteers were recruited.
Injecting Drug Users (IDU): This study was performed with 2 NGOs. A total of 178 IDUs was recruited.
Seroprevalence for HIV, HBV and HCV was studied.
Results: Seroprevalence expressed as percentage in: FSW was 2.9 for HIV, 14.4 for HBV, and 2.3 for HCV; MSM was 12.1 for HIV, 41.0 for HBV, and 1.2 for HCV; IDU was 43.3 for HIV, 41.0 for HBV, and 53.3 for HCV. HIV characterization showed predominance of subtype B in MSM and B/F in IDU.
Conclusions: Seroprevalence was high in IDUs, for all the bloodborne viruses. In MSM seroprevalence for sexually transmitted viruses such as HIV and HBV was high. In FSW the highest seroprevalence was for HBV. Up to now, there are no HIV incidence studies in Argentina. Research on HIV seroincidence has already started by means of sensitive/less-sensitive assay and longitudinal studies in MSM population. Predominant HIV subtypyes are being characterized in at-risk populations. In the short-term we will be starting a project on HIV prevalence and incidence in individuals who attend STD clinics. The AGHV will carry out most of these investigations.
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