title: HIV topic update: oro-genital transmission of HIV.
abstract: Several viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), can be found in blood and many body fluids including saliva, and are transmissible sexually across genital and particularly anal mucosae. A persisting concern has been the question of transmission of HIV by oral sexual practices. This review discusses the evidence for oro-genital transmission of HIV, detailing the presence and infectivity of HIV in genital fluids and saliva, the case reports and epidemiology of oro-genital HIV transmission, and the evidence from animal studies. Oral intercourse is not risk-free. The evidence suggests that the risk of HIV transmission from oro-genital sexual practices is substantially lower than that from penile-vaginal or penile-anal intercourse, that exposure to saliva presents a considerably lower risk than exposure to semen, and that oral trauma and ulcerative conditions might increase the risk of HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University College London, University of London, 256, Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK. c.scully@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000821:virology; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014774:Virulence