A preliminary study of the transmission dynamics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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A preliminary study of the transmission dynamics of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS.

IMA J Math Appl Med Biol. 1986;3(4):229-63. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/88285926
Anderson RM; Medley GF; May RM; Johnson AM; Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College,; University of London.

Abstract: The paper describes some preliminary attempts to formulate simple mathematical models of the transmission dynamics of HIV infection in homosexual communities. In conjunction with a survey of the available epidemiological data on HIV infection and the incidence of AIDS, the models are used to assess how various processes influence the course of the initial epidemic following the introduction of the virus. Models of the early stages of viral spread provide crude methods for estimating the basic reproductive rate of the virus, given a knowledge of the incubation period of the disease (AIDS) and the initial doubling time of the epidemic. More complex models are formulated to assess the influence of variation in the incubation period and heterogeneity in sexual activity. The latter factor is shown to have a major effect on the predicted pattern of the epidemic; high levels of heterogeneity decrease its magnitude. Areas of biological uncertainty, future research needs, and public health implications are discussed.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/MICROBIOLOGY/MORTALITY/ *TRANSMISSION Bisexuality Child Female Homosexuality Human HIV/*PATHOGENICITY Male *Models, Theoretical Risk Factors Sexually Transmitted Diseases/TRANSMISSION Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/microbiology/mortality/KWDtransmissionbisexualitychildfemalehomosexualityhumanhiv/KWDpathogenicitymaleKWDmodels,theoreticalriskfactorssexuallytransmitteddiseases/transmissionsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tjournalarticle
881130
M88B0589

Copyright © 1988 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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