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Absence of infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in "natural" eccrine sweat
G P Wormser1, S Bittker, G Forseter
1Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla 10595.
Insights
This study investigated the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in eccrine sweat. Researchers found no detectable HIV-1 in sweat samples from infected individuals using current methods.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is present in various bodily fluids.
- Eccrine sweat is a body fluid commonly encountered during person-to-person interactions.
- Previous research has not explored the presence of HIV-1 in eccrine sweat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if infectious HIV-1 can be detected in natural eccrine sweat.
- To assess the viability of HIV-1 in sweat samples from HIV-1-seropositive individuals.
Main Methods:
- Eccrine sweat and blood samples were collected from 50 HIV-1-seropositive patients and 2 controls.
- Cocultivation assays were performed on sweat samples to isolate HIV-1.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA in sweat.
Main Results:
- HIV-1 was isolated from 78% of blood samples from HIV-1-seropositive patients.
- No HIV-1 was isolated from any of the 52 tested sweat samples.
- HIV-1 viral DNA or RNA was not detected in the 40 sweat samples analyzed by PCR.
Conclusions:
- Infectious HIV-1 could not be demonstrated in natural eccrine sweat samples from HIV-infected patients using current methodologies.
- These findings suggest that eccrine sweat is unlikely to be a significant route for HIV-1 transmission.
- Further research may be needed to confirm these results with advanced detection techniques.
Abstract:
Although human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been found in numerous body fluids, there are no reports of attempts to demonstrate this virus in eccrine sweat, a fluid frequently encountered during person-to-person interactions. "Natural" eccrine sweat samples and blood from 50 HIV-1-seropositive patients and 2 HIV-1-seronegative controls were cultured for HIV-1 by a cocultivation method. Polymerase chain reaction for HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA was done on 40 sweat samples (39 patients, 1 control). HIV-1 was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 39 (78%) of 50 patients but from none of 52 sweat samples. No HIV-1 viral DNA or RNA was detected in the 40 sweat samples tested. With present methodology, infectious HIV-1 cannot be demonstrated in "natural" eccrine sweat samples from HIV-infected patients.