Seroprevalence of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 in Pregnant Women

Investigation on Spontaneous Abortion and Human Papillomavirus Infection

Viral infections are considered to be risk factors for spontaneous abortion (SA). Conflicting results have been reported on the association between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and SA. HPV DNA was investigated in matched chorionic villi tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from women who experienced SA (n = 80, cases) and women who underwent a voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VI; n = 80, controls) by qualitative PCR and quantitative droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Viral genotyping was performed using real-time PCR in HPV-positive samples. Specific IgG antibodies against HPV16 were investigated in sera from SA (n = 80) and VI (n = 80) females using indirect ELISA assays. None of the DNA samples from SA subjects was HPV-positive (0/80), whilst HPV DNA was detected in 2.5% of VI women (p > 0.05), with a mean viral DNA load of 7.12 copy/cell. VI samples (n = 2) were found to be positive for the HPV45 genotype. The ddPCR assay revealed a higher number of HPV-positive samples. HPV DNA was detected in 3.7% and 5% of SA and VI chorionic tissues, respectively, with mean viral DNA loads of 0.13 copy/cell in SA and 1.79 copy/cell in VI (p >0.05) samples. All DNA samples from the PBMCs of SA and VI females tested HPV-negative by both PCR and ddPCR. The overall prevalence of serum anti-HPV16 IgG antibodies was 37.5% in SA and 30% in VI (p > 0.05) women. For the first time, HPV DNA was detected and quantitatively analyzed using ddPCR in chorionic villi tissues and PBMCs from SA and VI women. Circulating IgG antibodies against HPV16 were detected in sera from SA and VI females. Our results suggest that HPV infection in chorionic villi may be a rare event. Accordingly, it is likely that HPV has no significant role in SA.

Paediatric virology and human papillomaviruses: An update

Almost 10 years ago, in October, 2008, the scientist who reported for the first time the association between human papillomaviruses (HPV) and cervical cancer, was awarded with the Nobel prize. In the years that followed, Professor Harald zur Hausen actively supported the value of the HPV vaccination in the prevention of different types of cancer and highlighted the necessity of its introduction in both girls and boys. However, to date, in the majority of countries, HPV vaccination among male adolescents has not been implemented into the national vaccination schemes, while in several countries, including Greece, the participation rate to HPV vaccination among female adolescents still remains low. Recent data indicate that catch-up HPV vaccination among young women has been extremely useful and has exhibited a significant effect in decreasing the prevalence of HPV. While the marketed current HPV vaccines prevent anogenital HPV infection, their impact on the natural history of oral HPV and their efficacy in preventing HPV-related head and neck carcinomas need to be further investigated. Juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, as well as HPV-associated conjunctival papillomas continue to be observed in childhood and their clinical management involves different therapeutic approaches with controversial outcomes. This review article provides an overview of recent views and advances on HPV infections and prevention in childhood that were presented at the '4th Workshop on Paediatric Virology' on Saturday September 22, 2018 in Athens, Greece.

Serologic response to oncogenic human papillomavirus types in male and female university students in Busan, South Korea

In the absence of genital samples, human papillomavirus (HPV) serology may be useful to assess HPV infection in young men and women. HPV seroprevalence and determinants of seropositivity were assessed in 817 female and 518 male university students in Busan, South Korea, of whom 74% and 44%, respectively, reported never having had penetrative sexual intercourse. Type-specific HPV DNA status, assessed by a short PCR fragment primer set, was available from genital samples. Seropositivity to L1 proteins of HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 were assessed using multiplex HPV serology. Among women, HPV seroprevalence was significantly higher among sexually active (26.1%) than nonsexually active students [11.1%, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.8-4.7], although the association was weaker than that for HPV DNA prevalence (OR, 14; 95% CI, 4.7-42). Furthermore, HPV seroprevalence was higher among HPV DNA-positive (24%) than HPV DNA-negative women (13%), and there was a positive correlation of type-specific seroprevalence with the presence of HPV DNA of the same type. In contrast, HPV seropositivity among men was not associated with sexual behavior or the presence of HPV DNA. Seroprevalence correlates with genital HPV exposure in young women, but its meaning in young men is unclear.