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Background Studying human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) superinfection is important to understand virus transmission, disease progression, and vaccine design. But detection remains challenging, with low sampling frequencies and insufficient longitudinal samples. Methods Using the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS), we developed a molecular epidemiology screening for superinfections. A phylogeny built from 22 243 HIV-1 partial polymerase sequences was used to identify potential superinfections among 4575 SHCS participants with longitudinal sequences. A subset of potential superinfections was tested by near-full-length viral genome sequencing (NFVGS) of biobanked plasma samples. Results Based on phylogenetic and distance criteria, 325 potential HIV-1 superinfections were identified and categorized by their likelihood of being detected as superinfections due to sample misidentification. NFVGS was performed for 128 potential superinfections; of these, 52 were confirmed by NFVGS, 15 were not confirmed, and for 61 sampling did not allow confirming or rejecting superinfection because the sequenced samples did not include the relevant time points causing the superinfection signal in the original screen. Thus, NFVGS could support 52 of 67 adequately sampled potential superinfections. Conclusions This cohort-based molecular approach identified, to our knowledge, the largest population of confirmed superinfections, showing that, while rare with a prevalence of 1%–7%, superinfections are not negligible events.

Background Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (InSTIs) are recommended for first-line treatment of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We identified risk factors, including baseline minor InSTI resistance mutations, for treatment failure of InSTI-based regimens. Methods We studied time-to-treatment failure and time to viral suppression among 1419 drug-naive patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. We performed Cox regression models adjusted for demographic factors, baseline HIV RNA/CD4 cell counts, AIDS-defining events, and the type of InSTI. In 646 patients with a baseline genotypic resistance test of the integrase, we studied the impact of minor integrase resistance mutations. Results We observed 121 virological failures during 18 447 person-years of follow-up. A baseline viral load ≥100 000 copies/mL (multivariable hazard ratio [mHR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–3.6) and an AIDS-defining event (mHR, 1.8; 95% CI. 1.1–3.0) were associated with treatment failure. CD4 counts between 200 and 500 cells/µL (mHR, 0.5; 95% CI, .3–.8) and >500 cells/µL (mHR, 0.4; 95% CI, .2–.7) were protective. Time to suppression was shorter in lower viral load strata (mHR, 0.7; 95% CI, .6–.8) and in dolutegravir-based therapy (mHR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0–1.4). Minor resistance mutations were found at baseline in 104 of 646 (16%) patients with no effect on treatment outcome. Conclusions Factors associated with treatment failure on InSTI-based first-line regimen remained similar to those of older treatments, in particular high viral load and low CD4 counts., Integrase strand transfer inhibitor–based therapies are effective as first-line treatment of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus. Among 1419 patients, we identified a high baseline viral load, low CD4 cell counts, and an AIDS-defining event before treatment initiation as predictors for treatment failure.

Background In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced global targets for the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. We conducted a nationwide HCV micro-elimination program among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) to test whether the WHO goals are achievable in this population. Methods During phase A (10/2015–06/2016), we performed a population-based and systematic screening for HCV-RNA among MSM from the SHCS. During phase B (06/2016–02/2017) we offered treatment with HCV direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents to MSM identified with a replicating HCV infection. During phase C (03/2017–11/2017), we offered rescreening to all MSM for HCV-RNA and initiated DAA treatment in MSM with replicating infections. Results We screened 3715/4640 (80%) MSM and identified 177 with replicating HCV infections (4.8%); 150 (85%) of whom started DAA treatment and 149 (99.3%) were cured. We rescreened 2930/3538 (83%) MSM with a prior negative HCV-RNA and identified 13 (0.4%) with a new HCV infection. At the end of the micro-elimination program, 176/190 MSM (93%) were cured, and the HCV incidence rate declined from .53 per 100 patient-years (95% CI, .35–.83) prior to the intervention to .12 (95% CI, .03–.49) by the end of 2019. Conclusions A systematic, population-based HCV micro-elimination program among MSM living with HIV was feasible and resulted in a strong decline in HCV incidence and prevalence. Our study can serve as a model for other countries aiming to achieve the WHO HCV elimination targets. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02785666.

Background Leukocyte telomere length (TL) shortens with age and is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) events in the general population. Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) may have accelerated atherosclerosis and shorter TL than the general population. It is unknown whether TL is associated with CAD in PLWH. Methods We measured TL by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in white Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants. Cases had a first CAD event during 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2017. We matched 1–3 PLWH controls without CAD events on sex, age, and observation time. We obtained univariable and multivariable odds ratios (OR) for CAD from conditional logistic regression analyses. Results We included 333 cases (median age 54 years; 14% women; 83% with suppressed HIV RNA) and 745 controls. Median time (interquartile range) of TL measurement was 9.4 (5.9–13.8) years prior to CAD event. Compared to the 1st (shortest) TL quintile, participants in the 5th (longest) TL quintile had univariable and multivariable CAD event OR = 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], .35–.91) and OR = 0.54 (95% CI, .31–.96). Multivariable OR for current smoking was 1.93 (95% CI, 1.27–2.92), dyslipidemia OR = 1.92 (95% CI, 1.41–2.63), and for recent abacavir, cumulative lopinavir, indinavir, and darunavir exposure was OR = 1.82 (95% CI, 1.27–2.59), OR = 2.02 (95% CI, 1.34–3.04), OR = 3.42 (95% CI, 2.14–5.45), and OR = 1.66 (95% CI, 1.00–2.74), respectively. The TL-CAD association remained significant when adjusting only for Framingham risk score, when excluding TL outliers, and when adjusting for CMV-seropositivity, HCV-seropositivity, time spent with detectable HIV viremia, and injection drug use. Conclusions In PLWH, TL measured >9 years before, is independently associated with CAD events after adjusting for multiple traditional and HIV-related factors.

Background It is unclear whether data-driven machine learning models, which are trained on large epidemiological cohorts, may improve prediction of comorbidities in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods In this proof-of-concept study, we included people living with HIV in the prospective Swiss HIV Cohort Study with a first estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 mL/minute/1.73 m2 after 1 January 2002. Our primary outcome was chronic kidney disease (CKD)—defined as confirmed decrease in eGFR ≤60 mL/minute/1.73 m2 over 3 months apart. We split the cohort data into a training set (80%), validation set (10%), and test set (10%), stratified for CKD status and follow-up length. Results Of 12 761 eligible individuals (median baseline eGFR, 103 mL/minute/1.73 m2), 1192 (9%) developed a CKD after a median of 8 years. We used 64 static and 502 time-changing variables: Across prediction horizons and algorithms and in contrast to expert-based standard models, most machine learning models achieved state-of-the-art predictive performances with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and precision recall curve ranging from 0.926 to 0.996 and from 0.631 to 0.956, respectively. Conclusions In people living with HIV, we observed state-of-the-art performances in forecasting individual CKD onsets with different machine learning algorithms., In people living with HIV who participate in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we observed state-of-the-art performances in forecasting individual onsets of chronic kidney disease with different machine learning algorithms.

Background Identifying local outbreaks and their drivers is a key step toward curbing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and potentially achieving HIV elimination. Such outbreaks can be identified as transmission clusters extracted from phylogenetic trees constructed of densely sampled viral sequences. In this study, we combined phylogenetic transmission clusters with extensive data on virological suppression and behavioral risk of cluster members to quantify the drivers of ongoing transmission over 10 years. Methods Using the comprehensive Swiss HIV Cohort Study and its drug-resistance database, we reconstructed phylogenetic trees for each year between 2007 and 2017. We identified HIV transmission clusters dominated by men who have sex with men (MSM) and determined their annual growth. We used Poisson regression to assess if cluster growth was associated with a per-cluster infectivity and behavioral risk score. Results Both infectivity and behavioral risk scores were significantly higher in growing MSM transmission clusters compared to nongrowing clusters (P ≤ .01). The fraction of transmission clusters without infectious members acquiring new infections increased significantly over the study period. The infectivity score was significantly associated with per-capita incidence of MSM transmission clusters in 8 years, while the behavioral risk score was significantly associated with per-capita incidence of MSM transmission clusters in 3 years. Conclusions We present a phylogenetic method to identify hotspots of ongoing transmission among MSM. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of treatment as prevention at the population level. However, the significantly increasing number of new infections among transmission clusters without infectious members highlights a relative shift from diagnosed to undiagnosed individuals as drivers of HIV transmission in Swiss MSM.

BackgroundSince the advent of universal test-and-treat , more people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) are asymptomatic with a preserved immune system. We explored the impact of asymptomatic status on adherence and clinical outcomes.MethodsPLHIV registered in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) between 2003 and 2018 were included. We defined asymptomatic as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage A within 30 days of starting ART, non-adherence as any self-reported missed doses and viral failure as two consecutive viral load>50 copies/mL after >24 weeks on ART. Using logistic regression models, we measured variables associated with asymptomatic status and adherence and Cox proportional hazard models to assess association between symptom status and viral failure.ResultsOf 7131 PLHIV, 76% started ART when asymptomatic and 1478 (22%) experienced viral failure after a median of 1.9 years (interquartile range, 1.1–4.2). In multivariable models, asymptomatic PLHIV were more likely to be younger, men who have sex with men, better educated, have unprotected sex, have a HIV-positive partner, have a lower viral load, and have started ART more recently. Asymptomatic status was not associated with nonadherence (odds ratio, 1.03 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .93–1.15]). Asymptomatic PLHIV were at a decreased risk of viral failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, .76–1.00]) and less likely to develop resistance (14% vs 27%, P ConclusionsDespite concerns regarding lack of readiness, our study found no evidence of adherence issues or worse clinical outcomes in asymptomatic PLHIV starting ART.

Background Scale-up of direct-acting antiviral therapy is expected to abate hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). International transmission could influence this process. We classified HCV infections in HIV-positive MSM as either domestically or internationally acquired, and estimated how this classification changed over time. Methods HCV subtype 1a (the most frequent subtype among MSM) genomes from 99 persons enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and diagnosed with replicating HCV infections, were sequenced. Sixty-six of these sequences were from MSM. We inferred maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees and time trees containing a fragment of the NS5B region of these and 374 circulating strains. We inferred transmission clusters from these trees and used the country composition of such clusters to attribute infections to domestic or international transmission. Results Of HCV transmissions, 50% to 80% were classified as domestic depending on the classification criterion. Between 2000 and 2007, the fraction attributable to domestic transmission was 54% (range 0–75%). It increased to 85% (range 67%–100%) between 2008 and 2016. Conclusions International and domestic transmission have played major roles in this epidemic. While international transmission persists, local transmission has established as the main source of infections., We used phylogenetics and phylodynamics to classify over time HCV infections in HIV-positive MSM as either domestically or internationally acquired. We found that while international transmission dominated initially and persists, local transmission has established as the main source of infections.

Objective. There is limited data on abdominal obesity and the influence of genetics on weight change after ant iretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. We assessed body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ration (WHR) change over time in the Swiss HIV Cohort study (SHCS)., Methods. Mixed-effects models characterizing BMI and WHR change over time in 1090 SHCS participants initiating ART between 2005 and 2015 were developed and used to quantify the influence of demographics, clinical factors, and genetic background., Results. Individuals with CD4 nadir = 200, and 2.8 times more WHR than individuals with >= 100 (P < .001) during the first 1.5 and 2.5 years after ART initiation, respectively. The risk of being overweight or obese after 1.5 years increased with CD4 nadir = 200 (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.26-2.32), persisting after 10 years of ART. The risk of abdominal obesity after 2.5 years increased with CD4 nadir = 100 (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17-1.54 [in men]; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18-1.57 [in women]), persisting after 10 years of ART No significant differences were found across antiretroviral drug classes or genetic scores., Conclusions. The risk of general and abdominal obesity increased with CD4 nadir

Background: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, the immune response over time to yellow fever vaccination (YFV) and the necessity for booster vaccination are not well understood. Methods: We studied 247 participants of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) with a first YFV after HIV diagnosis and determined their immune responses at 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years postvaccination by yellow fever plaque reduction neutralization titers (PRNTs) in stored blood samples. A PRNT of 1:≥10 was regarded as reactive and protective. Predictors of vaccination response were analyzed with Poisson regression. Results: At vaccination, 82% of the vaccinees were taking combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 83% had suppressed HIV RNA levels (

Pathogen strains may differ in virulence because they attain different loads in their hosts, or because they induce different disease-causing mechanisms independent of their load. In evolutionary ecology, the latter is referred to as “per-parasite pathogenicity”. Using viral load and CD4+ T cell measures from 2014 HIV-1 subtype B infected individuals enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we investigated if virulence — measured as the rate of decline of CD4+ T cells — and per-parasite pathogenicity are heritable from donor to recipient. We estimated heritability by donor-recipient regressions applied to 196 previously identified transmission pairs, and by phylogenetic mixed models applied to a phylogenetic tree inferred from HIV pol sequences. Regressing the CD4+ T cell declines and per-parasite pathogenicities of the transmission pairs did not yield heritability estimates significantly different from zero. With the phylogenetic mixed model, however, our best estimate for the heritability of the CD4+ T cell decline is 17% (5%–30%), and that of the per-parasite pathogenicity is 17% (4%–29%). Further, we confirm that the set-point viral load is heritable, and estimate a heritability of 29% (12%–46%). Interestingly, the pattern of evolution of all these traits differs significantly from neutrality, and is most consistent with stabilizing selection for the set-point viral load, and with directional selection for the CD4+ T cell decline and the per-parasite pathogenicity. Our analysis shows that the viral genetype affects virulence mainly by modulating the per-parasite pathogenicity, while the indirect effect via the set-point viral load is minor.

We analyzed changes in hepatitis B virus and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) viral loads (VL) during tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy among patients with a replicating HDV infection in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Only 28.6% experienced a ≥2.0 log reduction in HDV RNA, and 14.3% had undetectable HDV VL within 5 years.

Background Remdesivir (RDV) shortens time to recovery time in patients with severe COVID-19. Its effect in patients with moderate COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods We conducted an open-label, phase 3 trial (NCT04252664) involving hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, evidence of pulmonary infiltrates, and oxygen saturation >94% on room air. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive up to 5d or 10d of RDV with standard of care (SoC), or SoC alone; patients could be discharged prior to completing per-protocol assigned treatment duration. RDV was dosed intravenously at 200 mg on d1, 100 mg daily thereafter. Patients were evaluated daily while hospitalized, and via telephone if discharged. The primary endpoint was clinical status on d11 assessed on a 7-point ordinal scale. Results regarding the primary endpoint are expected to be published before IDWeek 2020; we plan to present d28 results at the meeting. Results In total, 584 patients underwent randomization and started their assigned treatment (191, 5d RDV; 193, 10d RDV; 200, SoC). By d11, ³ 2 point improvement on the ordinal scale occurred in 70% of patients in the 5d arm, 65% in the 10d arm, and 61% in the SoC arm. Patients in the 5d RDV arm were significantly more likely to have an improvement in clinical status than those receiving SoC (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–2.48; P=0.017); OR of improvement for the 10d RDV arm compared to SoC was 1.31 (95% CI, 0.88–1.95]; p=0.183). This improvement in the 5-day arm over the SOC arm was noted from d6 through d11. We observed a peak of discharges corresponding with the assigned treatment duration of RDV, with increased discharges at d6 in the 5-day arm and at d11 in the 10-day arm. A worsening of clinical status of ≥ 1 point in the ordinal scale was observed more commonly in the SoC am (n=19, 10%) versus the 5d RDV (n=7, 4%) and 10d RDV (n=9, 5%). Conclusion RDV for up to 5 days was superior to SoC in improving the clinical status of patients with moderate COVID-19 by d11. We will report d28 outcomes at the meeting. Disclosures Francisco M. Marty, MD, Allovir (Consultant)Amplyx (Consultant)Ansun (Scientific Research Study Investigator)Avir (Consultant)Cidara (Scientific Research Study Investigator)F2G (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)Kyorin (Consultant)Merck (Consultant, Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator)New England Journal of Medicine (Other Financial or Material Support, Honorarium for Video)Regeneron (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)ReViral (Consultant)Scynexis (Scientific Research Study Investigator)Symbio (Consultant)Takeda (Scientific Research Study Investigator)United Medical (Consultant)WHISCON (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Prashant Malhotra, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Robert L. Gottlieb, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Karen T. Tashima, MD, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Research Grant or Support)Gilead Sciences Inc. (Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator)GlaxoSmithKline (Research Grant or Support)Merck (Research Grant or Support)Tibotec (Research Grant or Support)Viiv Healthcare (Research Grant or Support) Massimo Galli, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Personal fees) Louis Yi Ann Chai, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Devi SenGupta, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Robert H. Hyland, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Hongyuan Wang, PhD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Lijie Zhong, PhD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Huyen Cao, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Anand Chokkalingam, PhD, Gilead Sciences (Employee) Anu Osinusi, MD, Gilead Sciences (Employee) Diana M. Brainard, MD, Gilead Sciences (Employee) Michael Brown, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Ane Josune Goikoetxea, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Mamta Jain, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator, Research Grant or Support)GlaxoSmithKline (Advisor or Review Panel member)Janssen (Research Grant or Support)Merck (Research Grant or Support) David Shu Cheong Hui, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Enos Bernasconi, MD, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Scientific Research Study Investigator) Christoph Spinner, MD, AbbVie (Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)Bristol-Myers Squibb (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)Gilead Sciences Inc. (Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)Janssen (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)MSD (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)Viiv Healthcare (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member, Other Financial or Material Support, Travel)

BackgroundIn human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the relative contribution of genetic background, clinical risk factors, and antiretrovirals to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown.MethodsWe applied a case-control design and performed genome-wide genotyping in white Swiss HIV Cohort participants with normal baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR >90 mL/minute/1.73 m2). Univariable and multivariable CKD odds ratios (ORs) were calculated based on the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) score, which summarizes clinical CKD risk factors, and a polygenic risk score that summarizes genetic information from 86 613 single-nucleotide polymorphisms.ResultsWe included 743 cases with confirmed eGFR drop to ConclusionsGenetic score increased CKD risk similar to clinical D:A:D score and potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals. Irrespective of D:A:D score, individuals with the most favorable genetic background may be protected against CKD.

Age-mixing patterns are of key importance for understanding the dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-epidemics and target public health interventions. We use the densely sampled Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) resistance database to study the age difference at infection in HIV transmission pairs using phylogenetic methods. In addition, we investigate whether the mean age difference of pairs in the phylogenetic tree is influenced by sampling as well as by additional distance thresholds for including pairs. HIV-1 pol-sequences of 11,922 SHCS patients and approximately 240,000 Los Alamos background sequences were used to build a phylogenetic tree. Using this tree, 100 per cent down to 1 per cent of the tips were sampled repeatedly to generate pruned trees (N = 500 for each sample proportion), of which pairs of SHCS patients were extracted. The mean of the absolute age differences of the pairs, measured as the absolute difference of the birth years, was analyzed with respect to this sample proportion and a distance criterion for inclusion of the pairs. In addition, the transmission groups men having sex with men (MSM), intravenous drug users (IDU), and heterosexuals (HET) were analyzed separately. Considering the tree with all 11,922 SHCS patients, 2,991 pairs could be extracted, with 954 (31.9 per cent) MSM-pairs, 635 (21.2 per cent) HET-pairs, 414 (13.8 per cent) IDU-pairs, and 352 (11.8 per cent) HET/IDU-pairs. For all transmission groups, the age difference at infection was significantly (P

In the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, the number of people who inject drugs with replicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection decreased substantially after the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Among men who have sex with men, the increase in DAA uptake and efficacy was counterbalanced by frequent incident HCV infections.

Background The proportion of undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in high-risk populations, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) is unclear. Identification of potential HCV transmitters is important to reach World Health Organization HCV elimination targets. Methods Between October 2015 and May 2016, we performed a systematic HCV RNA-based screening among HIV-infected MSM participating in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). HCV antibodies were measured from all HCV RNA-positive samples. Results Of 4257 MSM recorded in the SHCS database, we screened 3722 (87%) by HCV polymerase chain reaction, and 177 (4.8%) harbored a replicating HCV infection. We identified 24 individuals (14%) with incident HCV infection; one-third of them had a negative HCV antibody result at the time of HCV RNA positivity. In a multivariable model, elevated liver enzyme values (odds ratio, 14.52; 95% confidence interval, 9.92-21.26), unprotected sex with occasional partners (2.01; 1.36-2.98), intravenous drug use (7.13; 4.36-11.64), noninjectable drug use (1.94; 1.3-2.88), and previous syphilis diagnosis (2.56; 1.74-3.76) were associated with HCV RNA positivity. Conclusions A systematic HCV RNA-based screening among HIV-infected MSM revealed a high number of potential transmitters. A substantial subpopulation of MSM had incident infection, one-third of whom had a negative HCV antibody test result at the time of the HCV RNA positivity. These data reveal that one-time RNA testing of a high-risk population for HCV RNA might identify more infected persons than routine testing for HCV antibodies and liver enzymes. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02785666.

We describe a case of trichinellosis diagnosed at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Lugano, in January 2009. This case was associated with a cluster of cases and was traced to the consumption of contaminated meat after a wild boar hunt in Bosnia.