Sexual and mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1: a review. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Sexual and mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1: a review.

Am J Reprod Immunol. 1998 Sep;40(3):183-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/98436854
Chermann JC; INSERM Unite de Recherche sur les Retrovirus et Maladies,; Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France.

Abstract: PROBLEM: Sexual and mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 occurs only with a low percentage of infection. Many instances of sexual intercourse result in no transmission, and only 20% of children are infected from seropositive mothers (3% in mothers treated with azidothymidine). METHOD OF STUDY: We analyzed the presence of HIV in various ejaculates of the same HIV-infected patients, as well as in the cervico-vaginal fluid. We have studied the mechanism of transmission from mother to child, by analyzing the cell-to-cell transmission in the trophoblast. RESULTS: Some ejaculates collected at different times from the same HIV-infected males are free of virus, explaining the low rate of sexual transmission. We never found HIV in mobile spermatozoa. The trophoblast can be infected by HIV with a strain dependence and also transiently. By analyzing the tissue of the fetus, it was found that only some organs are infected, confirming the cell-to-cell transmission between the mother and child and not a true vertical transmission through the germinal lines. CONCLUSIONS: HIV is not always present in the genital secretion, explaining the low rate of sexual transmission. Mother-to-child transmission occurs during pregnancy but often after the second trimester and at delivery after cell-to-cell or blood transmission, respectively.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL *Disease Transmission, Vertical Female Human HIV Infections/*TRANSMISSION *HIV-1 Male Pregnancy Sexual PartnersKWDjournalarticlereviewreview,tutorialKWDdiseasetransmission,verticalfemalehumanhivinfections/KWDtransmissionKWDhiv-1malepregnancysexualpartners
990228
A9920990

Copyright © 1999 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1999. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .