HIV-2 Treatment in Mali and Drug Resistance Antiretroviral Profile

Abstract

Aims: We evaluated different treatment regimens administered to patients infected with HIV-2 in Mali, and studied pol polymorphisms that may influence susceptibility to antiretrovirals. Methodology: We collected 57 blood samples from HIV - 2 seropositive patients in health centers in Mali (Bamako, Segou and Sikasso), including 21 treated patients and 36 untreated patients. The confirmation of the serological status and the measurement of the viral load were carried out in Brussels. Genotypic analysis of protease, reverse transcriptase and integrase was then performed on specimens with detectable viral load. The search for ARV resistance mutations and polymorphism positions was performed in comparison with reference sequences. Results: The most used treatment regimen was ZDV-3TC-LPV/ r.  Genotypic analysis of protease, reverse transcriptase and integrase was performed on 20 samples from patients with detectable viral load: 16 untreated patients and 4 treated patients. Seventy-five percent of the strains analyzed correspond to group A of HIV-2. In 2cas, mutations associated with resistance to the administered molecules were found. Three viral strains from untreated patients had NRTI or PI resistance mutations. In integrase, no mutation associated with resistance was observed. Conclusion: The circulation of strains carrying resistance mutations to NRTIs and PIs has been observed in Mali.