Human papillomavirus DNA positivity and seropositivity in rural Chinese men and women: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Fangfang Liu,Yang Ke,Xiang Li,Ying Liu,Ruiping Xu,Dong Hang,Yaqi Pan,Min Sun,Chaoting Zhang,Jingjing Li,Tao Ning,Lixin Zhang,Qiuju Deng,Zhonghu He,Chuanhai Guo,Chanyuan Zhang,Hong Cai,Yongmei Liang,Mengfei Liu

doi:10.1038/srep26343

Abstract

Data on simultaneous analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and serology and the correlations within a single general population are limited. Among 1603 men and 2187 women enrolled from rural China, serum antibodies against bacterially derived GST-L1 fusion proteins of HPV were assessed with multiplexed serology and HPV DNA was evaluated with PCR-based sequencing. Few subjects were dually positive to HPV DNA and serum antibodies for any HPV (6.6% of men and 3.1% of women). The proportion of men ever having been infected with any HPV (DNA and/or antibody positive) was higher than that of women (71.0% vs. 65.2%, P < 0.001). Type-specific association was observed for genital HPV infection and HPV seropositivity among women but not among men. A positive correlation between the number of lifetime sexual partners and positivity for oncogenic HPV DNA and/or antibodies was found in men but was absent in women. Among 762 couples, the presence of HPV DNA and/or antibodies in one partner was positively associated with the identical HPV type in the other partner. These findings may reflect a site-specific natural course of HPV infection and further understanding of the epidemiology of HPV.

Highlights

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which is mainly sexually transmitted is an etiologic factor for malignant lesions of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and penis, and genital warts[1]
In this study more subjects were simultaneously negative for both HPV DNA and serum antibodies than positive for both HPV DNA and antibodies
Type-specific association of genital HPV infection and HPV seropositivity was observed in women but not in men

Summary

Introduction

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which is mainly sexually transmitted is an etiologic factor for malignant lesions of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and penis, and genital warts[1]. Serological response indicates past HPV exposure, not all natural HPV infections (~50% of cervical HPV infection) lead to seroconversion according to data collected using HPV Virus Like Particle (VLP) ELISA3,4, which is not as sensitive as Luminex approach Both HPV DNA data and serology data, each with its particular advantages and disadvantages as a marker for HPV infection, should be used together to better evaluate HPV exposure. We reported an overall seroprevalence of 64.8% for HPV-3, 6, 11, 16, 18, 45, 52, 57, 58, and/or 75 in 5548 healthy males and females aged 25–65 in rural China[7] The aims of this population-based cross-sectional study are to evaluate the simultaneous positivity of both HPV DNA and serum antibodies, to explore the risk factors for ever having been infected with HPV, and to assess the correlations of HPV DNA status and antibody response based on this general population

Methods

Results

Conclusion