Frequent detection of HIV-1 RNA but low rates of HIV-1 isolation in cervicovaginal secretions from infected women.
Information regarding the presence of HIV-1 in the female genital tract is necessary to gain insight into the mechanism of HIV-1 heterosexual transmission. Herein, we present the results of a study on virus isolation and HIV-1 RNA detection from cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples from 25 HIV-1 seropositive women. Despite detectable levels of HIV-1 RNA in 88% of CVL samples, HIV-1 was isolated in only four (19%) samples. Although HIV-1 shedding in cervicovaginal secretions is a common event at all disease stages, the recovery of infectious virus in cell cultures appears to be rare; this renders viral isolation in studies aimed to evaluate the infectivity of cervicovaginal secretions relatively useless.
Saracino
A
A
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy.
Di Stefano
M
M
Fiore
J R
JR
Lepera
A
A
Raimondi
D
D
Angarano
G
G
Pastore
G
G
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D017201:Virus Shedding
D012367:RNA, Viral