title: Subclinical human papillomavirus infections in male sexual partners of female carriers.
abstract: The male sexual partners of 156 women with human papillomavirus infection of the cervix uteri were examined. In 120 men (77 per cent) penile lesions were found on examination of the penis via a colposcope (peniscopy) the most common of which were flat acetowhite lesions (53 per cent). Predilection sites of lesions were the urethral meatus and the corona glandis (23 and 19 per cent of the lesions, respectively). Using filter in situ hybridization human papillomavirus-deoxyribonucleic acid was found in penile smears of 61 men (39 per cent). The cancer-associated viral types (human papillomavirus 16 and 18) were identified in 75 per cent of the human papillomavirus positive men. Viral types of sexual partners were identical in 87 per cent. The correlation between infections with human papillomavirus 16 and 18, and the severity of the cervical lesion was significant in corresponding sexual partners. Our results support the hypothesis that male sexual partners represent a risk factor by acting as a reservoir for genital infections with papillomaviruses. The majority of human papillomavirus infections are of subclinical character. They require sensitive diagnostic techniques, such as peniscopy and hybridization for their identification. Detection and treatment of subclinical human papillomavirus infection in men may be important for the prevention of genital cancer in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, West Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirchmayr
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: De Villiers
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gissmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000382:microbiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral