Prevalence of antibody to HTLV-III/LAV in a population attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.
To determine whether HTLV-III/LAV is transmitted to men by heterosexual contact and whether contact with prostitutes plays a role in such transmission, a serosurvey was conducted in clinics for sexually transmitted diseases in New York City. Two hundred ninety-five male heterosexual nonusers of intravenous drugs were studied. Antibody to HTLV-III/LAV was found in sera from ten men (3.4%); this rate is approximately 15 times the prevalence found in healthy blood donors. Seropositivity was associated with serologic evidence of syphilis (odds ratio, 11.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-52) and hepatitis B infection (odds ratio, 9.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-55). Antibody to HTLV-III/LAV was not associated with self-reported exposure to prostitutes (odds ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-4.2). These findings suggest heterosexual transmission of HTLV-III/LAV to men but fail to implicate contact with prostitutes as a mode of such transmission.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012698:Serologic Tests; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral