HIV in the oral cavity: virus, viral inhibitory activity, and antiviral antibodies: a review.
Although it is generally assumed that HIV transmission does not occur through casual oral contact, persistent reports in the literature and the well-documented case of the Florida dentist (Ou et al., 1992) have served to elevate concerns and interest about the possibility of oral transmission of HIV. The literature suggests that: (1) the presence of infectious virus in the oral cavity is an uncommon event; (2) PCR data indicate that HIV sequences may be present in the oral cavity at reasonably high frequency--further studies are warranted; (3) saliva appears to contain potent anti-HIV activity that may be responsible for the low oral virus titer; and (4) oral secretions are a reliable source for monitoring anti-HIV antibodies. It is clear that the oral cavity will remain a focus for HIV research, in terms of both viral transmission/pathogenesis and for noninvasive diagnosis of the HIV-positive individual.
Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
D
D
Malamud
H M
HM
Friedman
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015483:HIV Antibodies