Intrafamilial horizontal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in an area of low incidence
Velardo, M.A.; Pineda, J.A.; Rey, C.; Leal, M.; Sánchez-Quijano, A.; Díaz-Torres, M.A.; Lissen, E.
Medicina Clinica 91(5): 166-168
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 3172926 Document Number: 323248
To evaluate the importance of the horizontal intrafamilial transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an area with low AIDS incidence, we have evaluated the antibodies against HIV (HIV-Ab) in 59 stable sexual couples and in 235 persons closely (not sexually) related to 135 individuals from their household belonging to AIDS risk groups (69 of them were HIV-Ab seropositive and 66 seronegative). HIV-Ab was detected in only one of the persons living with high-risk individuals (with a high suspicion of perinatal transmission), in five sexual couples of seropositive individuals and in two couples of seronegative individuals (11.8%). These results indicate that HIV infection through close nonsexual contact is virtually nonexistent in our area, and support the intrinsic risk of the stable heterosexual partnership with seropositive individuals; in addition, they suggest the possible occurrence of occult carriers with infective capacity by this route.