Observed HIV drug resistance associated mutations amongst naïve immunocompetent children in Yaoundé, Cameroon

• Published in: Germs (Bucureşti) 2017-12, Vol.7 (4), p.178-185
• Main Authors: Ikomey, George Mondinde, Assoumou, Marie Claire Okomo, Gichana, Josiah Otwoma, Njenda, Duncan, Mikasi, Sello Given, Mesembe, Martha, Lyonga, Emilia, Jacobs, Graeme Brendon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Dosage and administration; Drug resistance; Drug therapy; Gene mutation; Genetic aspects; GLP-1 receptor agonists; Health aspects; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Identification and classification; Immunocompetence; Infectious diseases; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Original; Pediatric HIV infections; Statistics
• ISSN: 2248-2997; 2248-2997
• DOI: 10.18683/germs.2017.1124

The emergence of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) has been a major threat for successful lifelong combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), especially for HIV-vertically infected children within the context of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). This study aimed to evaluate DRMs amongst immune competent treatment-naïve children in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2015 and 2016 amongst 55 proxy consented HIV-1 positive children, aged 9 months to 6 years. They were all immune competent, cART naïve and with unknown history of PMTCT. CD4 cell counts and genotypic drug resistance testing were performed using standard methods. Levels of DRMs to protease (PR) inhibitors (PIs), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-NRTIs were 27.6%, 3.7% and 40.7%, respectively. Only minor DRMs were observed for PR. The observed mutations for NRTI were K65R, T215I and K219E (33.0% each) and for NNRTI: V106M, Y181C and Y188H (6.0% each). Only minor accessory mutations were found in the integrase (IN) region. Despite widely available cART we still observe naïve HIV children, especially from the rural communities. We observe that a proportion of study participants had HIV-1 drug resistance associated mutations (RAMs). Data generated could help strengthen the current PMTCT programmes within the country. There is a need to upscale approaches for drug resistance testing for children in Cameroon and many other resource-limited settings.