Minimal Risk of Transmission of AIDS-Associated Retrovirus Infection by Oral-Genital Contact

Abstract

To the Editor.— The San Francisco Men's Health Study is a prospective study of a population-based random sample of single men 25 to 54 years of age residing in the 19 census tracts of San Francisco with the highest incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). One thousand thirty-five eligible men were recruited. Participants visit the study clinic at six-month intervals, where they undergo a detailed medical and life-style interview and physical examination and provide specimens for laboratorystudy. Serological testing for AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV) is performed on the cohort using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. 1,2 Between June 1984 and January 1985 at the time of the first clinic visit, 214 exclusively heterosexual men were found to be uniformly seronegative for antibodies to ARV and will not be considered further in this communication. At that time, the overall seropositivity rate for the remaining 821 homosexual and/or bisexual men was 48.4%.