Absence of HIV infection in low- and high-risk groups in the Santa Cruz region, Bolivia

Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Bolivias Santa Cruz region blood samples were collected from 446 individuals in November-December 1986. Subjects were drawn from 3 localities: Camiri and Boyuibe areas predominantly composed of mestizos and Javillo a very small community completely isolated in the jungle. Of the 446 subjects 139 were males (average age 17.3 years) and 307 were females (average age 18.6 years). These subjects included attendees at the Camiri outpatient hospital clinics hospital staff from Camiri and Boyuibe elementary and middle school students from Camiri and Boyuibe and almost the entire population of Javillo. None of the 446 serum samples analyzed was positive for antibodies to HIV. This finding was not surprising given the low level of contact between study subjects and possibly infected people from other areas or countries. To determine whether a lack of multiple sex partners in the population studied accounted for the absence of HIV infection blood samples were also collected from 334 licensed prostitutes working in Santa Cruz Camiri and Montero; 150 workers in houses of prostitution in Santa Cruz and 12 male homosexuals from Santa Cruz. Even among these high-risk individuals there were no cases of HIV seropositivity. Despite the fact that residents of this region of Bolivia appear to be free of HIV infection ongoing seroepidemiological studies are recommended to monitor the situation and identify infected individuals.