The virus that causes AIDS spreads surprisingly fast throughout the
head and neck after oral exposure either through breastfeeding or
semen and may result in a greater number of infections than previously
believed, according to new research. The findings preliminary until
confirmed by other investigators could have major health implications
for women and girls worldwide. For the study published in December,
researchers led by Donald Sodora, assistant professor of Internal
Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, tracked the simian version of
HIV, known as SIV, throughout the oral cavities and digestive tracts of
monkeys. The animals were infected in their cheeks pouches. One day
after exposure, scientists found lymph nodes tissue that serves as
filters for the immune system in the head and neck had been infected.
They also found the virus had infected much of the soft tissue in the
mouth, including the gums, and also the esophagus and tonsils. Four
days after infection, the AIDS virus was found in nearly all head and
neck tissue. However, researchers did not find evidence AIDS had
infected any of the digestive tract, leading scientists to suspect
stomach acids may contain substances that ward off the virus. [more]
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