The Introduction of HIV during 1979–80 in a Sexually Active Homosexual Population of Stockholm

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Abstract
Serological tests for hepatitis A (HA) and B (HB), syphilis and HIV were performed on blood samples from 3 groups of homosexual men: 220 and 124 asymptomatic men being investigated in 1978 and 1980 respectively and another 98 men suffering from HA during the winter 1979-80. The two asymptomatic groups revealed similar test results with respect to HA, HB and syphilis: about 25% had markers for HA, 50% for HB and 10-16% for syphilis. The 1979-80 HA group had a comparatively high frequency of markers for HB (64%) and for syphilis (34%), indicating that these men were sexually highly active. While all of the men in the 1978 test group were free from HIV antibodies, 2% of the 1980 and 6% of the 1979-80 group had antibodies to the virus. The results indicate that HIV was introduced to the gay population of Stockholm during 1979-80.