Receptive anal intercourse, but not orogenital sex, has been identified as a major risk factor for transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). In this study we inoculated newborn pigtailed macaques with HIV-1 via various mucosal routes. None of the animals inoculated orally became infected, whereas four of the five animals inoculated rectally did become infected. From this we conclude that oral inoculation is not as efficient as rectal inoculation in the transmission of HIV-1. On the other hand, the orally inoculated animals failed to thrive, indicating that perhaps HIV-1 did affect these animals in the absence of overt systemic infection.
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