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There are two viruses that cause Aids, namely HIV-1 and HIV-2.
HIV-1 is the predominant virus in most parts of the world, whereas HIV-2 is most commonly found in West Africa. These viruses belong to a family called the retroviruses. They are unique viruses in that they are able to insert their genetic material into the genetic material (DNA) of cells of the person that they have infected. In this way they are able to infect a person for the rest of that person's life.
Viruses that are closely related to HIV are found in other primates (apes and monkeys). These viruses are called Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIV).
HIV-2 is genetically almost indistinguishable from the SIV found in sooty mangabeys. A very close genetic relative of HIV-1 has been found in chimpanzees. Therefore, most scientists accept that the human immunodeficiency viruses are recently derived from these primate viruses. The earliest human blood sample found to contain HIV dates from 1959. This sample was collected in central Africa.
Based on molecular technology and the use of large computer programmes scientists have been able to trace back the genetic origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and roughly pinpoint the time when these viruses first appeared in humans. The current theory is that sometime, between 1930 - 1940, there was a “species-jump” of certain SIV's into human populations, probably through slaughtering, preparing and consuming “bush meat” from monkeys in parts of Central and West Africa.
How HIV is transmitted
HIV is not as contagious as is often believed. The virus does not survive long outside the body and can only be transmitted through the direct exchange of certain body fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
The virus can gain access to the body at its moist surfaces ("mucous membranes") during sex, or through direct injection into the blood stream. Sex is the major mode of transmission of HIV worldwide.
HIV can be transferred from one person to another (transmitted) through:
• Unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with an infected person.
• A mother’s infection passing to her child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding – the risk of HIV passing from mother to child is approximately 30% if no preventative measure is used.
• Injection with contaminated needles, which may occur when intravenous drug users share needles, or when health care workers are involved in needle-prick accidents.
• Use of contaminated surgical instruments, for example during traditional circumcision.
• Blood transfusion with infected blood.
• Contact of a mucous-membrane surface with infected blood or body fluid, for example with a splash in the eye (Note: that the virus cannot penetrate undamaged skin).
If a person is exposed to HIV in one of the above ways infection is not inevitable. The likelihood of transmission of HIV is determined by factors such as the concentration of HIV present in the body fluids.
For example, though HIV has been detected in saliva, the concentration is thought to be too low for HIV to be transmitted through deep/wet kissing as it would require the exchange of almost one litre of saliva between individuals before there would be sufficient virus available for possible transmission. Additionally, a digestive protein in human saliva tends to inactivate the virus.
The risk of HIV transmission also depends on the stage of infection the HIV-positive sexual partner is in.
Virus concentrations in blood and body fluids are highest when a person has very recently been infected with HIV, or otherwise very late in the disease, when Aids has developed. Very early after infection the virus can multiply rapidly as the immune system has not had time to respond and fight back. And late in the disease the virus can multiply rapidly because it has destroyed the immune system altogether.
However, it is important to note that once a person is infected with HIV, their blood, semen or vaginal fluids are infectious for the rest of their lives.
Who is at risk
Vulnerability to HIV infection through sexual contact is increased if a person has sores on the genitals, mouth or around the anus/rectum. These sores can be caused by rough intercourse, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gum disease or overuse of spermicides.
In heterosexual sex, women are more vulnerable to HIV infection because of the large mucous-membrane surface area of the vagina compared to that of the urethra (penile opening). Therefore, in regions where heterosexual sex is the main way HIV is transmitted, approximately four women are infected for every three men that are infected.
Men who are circumcised have a slightly lower risk of being infected with HIV.
Fortunately, people can take action to reduce their risk of infection. For example, a person who uses a condom every time he or she has sex is at far lower risk of infection than someone who has unprotected sex.
The following outlines common sexual behaviours according to relative risk:
Very low risk
• Kissing (if no blood is exchanged through cuts or sores).
• Touching (such as stroking, hugging or massage).
• Masturbation (including mutual masturbation).
• Oral sex on a man with a condom.
• Oral sex on a woman with a barrier method (such as plastic wrap, dental dam or a condom cut open).
Low risk
• Wet/deep kissing (when sores or gum disease, and therefore blood, are present).
• Oral sex.
• Vaginal sex with a male or female condom.
• Anal sex with a male or female condom.
High risk
• Anal intercourse without a condom.
• Vaginal sex without a condom.
How HIV is not transmitted
Unfortunately, there are still many myths around HIV. A person cannot be infected through:
• Mosquito bites
• Urine or sweat
• Public toilets, saunas, showers or swimming pools
• Sharing towels, linen or clothing
• Going to school with, socialising or working with HIV-positive people
• Sharing cutlery or crockery
• Sneezes or coughs
• Touching, hugging or dry kissing a person with HIV
• (Sexual) contact with animals, since HIV is strictly a human virus and is not carried by animals.
HIV and blood transfusions
In Australia all blood donations have been tested for HIV since May 1985, making HIV risk from blood transfusion very low risk and all transfusion materials - needles, packs, swabs, finger-pricking lancets etc - are sterile and never re-used.
HIV-1 is the predominant virus in most parts of the world, whereas HIV-2 is most commonly found in West Africa. These viruses belong to a family called the retroviruses. They are unique viruses in that they are able to insert their genetic material into the genetic material (DNA) of cells of the person that they have infected. In this way they are able to infect a person for the rest of that person's life.
Viruses that are closely related to HIV are found in other primates (apes and monkeys). These viruses are called Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIV).
HIV-2 is genetically almost indistinguishable from the SIV found in sooty mangabeys. A very close genetic relative of HIV-1 has been found in chimpanzees. Therefore, most scientists accept that the human immunodeficiency viruses are recently derived from these primate viruses. The earliest human blood sample found to contain HIV dates from 1959. This sample was collected in central Africa.
Based on molecular technology and the use of large computer programmes scientists have been able to trace back the genetic origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and roughly pinpoint the time when these viruses first appeared in humans. The current theory is that sometime, between 1930 - 1940, there was a “species-jump” of certain SIV's into human populations, probably through slaughtering, preparing and consuming “bush meat” from monkeys in parts of Central and West Africa.
How HIV is transmitted
HIV is not as contagious as is often believed. The virus does not survive long outside the body and can only be transmitted through the direct exchange of certain body fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
The virus can gain access to the body at its moist surfaces ("mucous membranes") during sex, or through direct injection into the blood stream. Sex is the major mode of transmission of HIV worldwide.
HIV can be transferred from one person to another (transmitted) through:
• Unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with an infected person.
• A mother’s infection passing to her child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding – the risk of HIV passing from mother to child is approximately 30% if no preventative measure is used.
• Injection with contaminated needles, which may occur when intravenous drug users share needles, or when health care workers are involved in needle-prick accidents.
• Use of contaminated surgical instruments, for example during traditional circumcision.
• Blood transfusion with infected blood.
• Contact of a mucous-membrane surface with infected blood or body fluid, for example with a splash in the eye (Note: that the virus cannot penetrate undamaged skin).
If a person is exposed to HIV in one of the above ways infection is not inevitable. The likelihood of transmission of HIV is determined by factors such as the concentration of HIV present in the body fluids.
For example, though HIV has been detected in saliva, the concentration is thought to be too low for HIV to be transmitted through deep/wet kissing as it would require the exchange of almost one litre of saliva between individuals before there would be sufficient virus available for possible transmission. Additionally, a digestive protein in human saliva tends to inactivate the virus.
The risk of HIV transmission also depends on the stage of infection the HIV-positive sexual partner is in.
Virus concentrations in blood and body fluids are highest when a person has very recently been infected with HIV, or otherwise very late in the disease, when Aids has developed. Very early after infection the virus can multiply rapidly as the immune system has not had time to respond and fight back. And late in the disease the virus can multiply rapidly because it has destroyed the immune system altogether.
However, it is important to note that once a person is infected with HIV, their blood, semen or vaginal fluids are infectious for the rest of their lives.
Who is at risk
Vulnerability to HIV infection through sexual contact is increased if a person has sores on the genitals, mouth or around the anus/rectum. These sores can be caused by rough intercourse, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gum disease or overuse of spermicides.
In heterosexual sex, women are more vulnerable to HIV infection because of the large mucous-membrane surface area of the vagina compared to that of the urethra (penile opening). Therefore, in regions where heterosexual sex is the main way HIV is transmitted, approximately four women are infected for every three men that are infected.
Men who are circumcised have a slightly lower risk of being infected with HIV.
Fortunately, people can take action to reduce their risk of infection. For example, a person who uses a condom every time he or she has sex is at far lower risk of infection than someone who has unprotected sex.
The following outlines common sexual behaviours according to relative risk:
Very low risk
• Kissing (if no blood is exchanged through cuts or sores).
• Touching (such as stroking, hugging or massage).
• Masturbation (including mutual masturbation).
• Oral sex on a man with a condom.
• Oral sex on a woman with a barrier method (such as plastic wrap, dental dam or a condom cut open).
Low risk
• Wet/deep kissing (when sores or gum disease, and therefore blood, are present).
• Oral sex.
• Vaginal sex with a male or female condom.
• Anal sex with a male or female condom.
High risk
• Anal intercourse without a condom.
• Vaginal sex without a condom.
How HIV is not transmitted
Unfortunately, there are still many myths around HIV. A person cannot be infected through:
• Mosquito bites
• Urine or sweat
• Public toilets, saunas, showers or swimming pools
• Sharing towels, linen or clothing
• Going to school with, socialising or working with HIV-positive people
• Sharing cutlery or crockery
• Sneezes or coughs
• Touching, hugging or dry kissing a person with HIV
• (Sexual) contact with animals, since HIV is strictly a human virus and is not carried by animals.
HIV and blood transfusions
In Australia all blood donations have been tested for HIV since May 1985, making HIV risk from blood transfusion very low risk and all transfusion materials - needles, packs, swabs, finger-pricking lancets etc - are sterile and never re-used.
