Assessing Gammapapillomavirus infections of mucosal epithelia with two broad-spectrum PCR protocols

ELISA M. BOLATTI; PABLO E. CASAL; KRISTINA FUJS KOMLOS; ELISA M. BOLATTI; PABLO E. CASAL; KRISTINA FUJS KOMLOS; LEA HONJAK; M. FLORENCIA RE-LOUHAU; MARIO POLJAK; LEA HONJAK; M. FLORENCIA RE-LOUHAU; MARIO POLJAK; DIEGO CHOUHY; HEBE BOTTAI; ADRIANA A. GIRI; DIEGO CHOUHY; HEBE BOTTAI; ADRIANA A. GIRI

BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES

BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 vol. 20

1471-2334

Background. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been divided into mucosal andcutaneous types according to their primary epithelial tissue tropism. However, recent studies showed the presence of several cutaneous types in mucosal lesions and healthy mucosa from different anatomical sites.Methods. Here, the HPV prevalence and type-specific distribution were assessedin a variety of mucosal samples from 435 individuals using a combination of two established broad-spectrum primer systems: Gamma-PV PCR and CUT PCR.Results. Overall HPV prevalence in anal canal swabs, cervical cancer biopsies,genital warts and oral swabs was 85, 47, 62 and 4%, respectively. In anal canal swabs, Alpha-PVs were most frequently found (59%), followed by Gamma- (37%) and Beta-PVs (4%). The prevalence and persistence of HPV infection in the anal canal of 226 individuals were further explored. Overall HPV, Gamma-PVs and multiple HPV infections were significantly higher in men vs. women (p = 0.034, p = 0.027 and p = 0.003, respectively); multiple HPV infections were more common inindividuals ≤40 years (p = 0.05), and significantly higher prevalence ofGamma-PVs and multiple HPV infections was observed in HIV-1-positive vs. HIV-1-negative individuals (p = 0.003 and p = 0.04,respectively). Out of 21 patients with follow-up anal swabs, only one persistent infection with the same type (HPV58) was detected.Conclusions. Our findings suggest that Gamma-PVs (except species Gamma-6) areubiquitous viruses with dual muco-cutaneous tissue tropism. Anal canalGamma-PV infections may be associated with sexual behavior and thehost immune status. This study expands the knowledge on Gamma-PVs?tissue tropism, providing valuable data on the characteristics of HPVinfection in the anal canal.