Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: Aug | Volume: 7 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 87-91
Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) Taste Perception in HIV Naive Persons
C. Igbeneghu1, J.M. Olisekodiaka2, O.A. Aina3, B.S.A Oseni1, B.T. Oluwatunbi1
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola
University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria
2Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
3State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: C. Igbeneghu
ABSTRACT
Background: The present study was carried out to confirm our previous study where we reported that there was no association between contraction of HIV infection and PTC taste perception. In that study, we indicated our intention to confirm the observation with a larger sample size of apparently healthy asymptomatic HIV-infected persons (HIV naive group).
Methods: Study participants consisted of 121 seemingly healthy individuals negative for HIV antibody test (HIV negative group), 123 HIV naive persons and 116 symptomatic HIV-infected patients (HIV symptomatic group). They were enrolled in this study after clinical examination and informed consent was obtained from each participant. Antibodies to HIV were determined using determine HIV 1/HIV 2 test kit and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed with Western blot (WB) and real time PCR. Tasters and non-tasters were determined using phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste strips (0.0143 mg/strip). Results: Of the 123 persons in the HIV naive group, 69.9% were tasters; 71.9% of the 121 persons in the HIV negative group were tasters while 41.4% of the 116 individuals in the HIV symptomatic group were tasters. Phenylthiocarbamide taste perception varied significantly among the 3 groups of participants (p < 0.001). Tasters of PTC in the HIV naive and control groups were not significantly different (p = 0.73). Tasters of PTC in the HIV symptomatic group were significantly lower than tasters in the HIV negative group (p < 0.001) and tasters in the HIV naive group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study shows that acquisition of HIV infection is not dependent on PTC taste perception. However, the progression of HIV infection affects PTC taste sensitivity.
Key words: HIV infection, PTC taste perception, HIV persons