The risk of HIV transmission increased during the acute phase of infection

The risk of transmission of HIV is exacerbated during periods of acute infection, according to a study published in the journal "The Journal of Infectious Diseases."

Many elements may alter the rate of HIV transmission, including co-infection with sexually transmitted virus, immunosuppression and practice of sexual behavior "at risk".

But several studies have led to think that the acute phase of HIV infection was also a time when the risk of transmission of the virus was particularly high.

Based on this premise, Dr. Christopher Pilcher and his team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a study to test the viral load contained in sexual fluids was proportional to blood-borne.

According to them, the increase in viral load in the bloodstream, as observed during the acute phase of HIV infection, is correlated with an increase in viral load in the genital tract , which would have the effect of increasing the rate of HIV transmission during sex.

Especially in collaboration with colleagues at Duke University, they examined samples from men with either an acute infection or a chronic HIV infection.

They found that the viral load contained in the semen of men with acute infection was higher than that of men with chronic infection. In addition, statistical analysis has established a direct correlation between the amount of HIV in the blood and semen.

Using a probabilistic model, the authors evaluated the effect of semen from individuals with an acute form of the rate of HIV transmission during heterosexual intercourse. According to the results, patients are hyper-infectious before the onset of symptoms, and for about six weeks. During this period, the rate of HIV transmission during sex is probably much higher than what is believed, studies have so far found that the viral load measured during infection chronic.

They invite us to focus prevention efforts and the development of treatments for people with acute infection to slow the spread of HIV.