Seroepidemiology of infection with human papillomavirus 16, in men and women attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States.
BACKGROUND
The study sought to characterize the seroprevalence, seropersistence, and seroincidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 antibody, as well as the behavioral risk factors for HPV-16 seropositivity.


METHODS
Serologic data at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits were used to examine the seroprevalence, seropersistence, and seroincidence of HPV-16 antibody in 1595 patients attending United States clinics treating sexually transmitted disease. Testing for antibody to HPV-16 was performed by capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using viruslike particles.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of HPV-16 antibody was 24.5% overall and was higher in women than in men (30.2% vs. 18.7%, respectively). In those who were HPV-16 seropositive at baseline, antibody response persisted to 12 months in 72.5% of women and in 45.6% of men. The seroincidence of HPV-16 antibody was 20.2/100 person-years (py) overall, 25.4/100 py in women, and 15.7/100 py in men. In multivariate analysis, the seroprevalence of HPV-16 antibody was significantly associated with female sex, age >20 years, and the number of episodes of sex with occasional partners during the preceding 3 months, whereas the seroincidence of HPV-16 antibody was significantly associated with female sex, age >20 years, baseline negative ELISA result greater than the median value, and the number of episodes of unprotected sex with occasional partners during the preceding 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex- and age-related differences in both the seropositivity and seroincidence of HPV-16 antibody persisted after adjustment for behavioral and sociodemographic risk factors, and behavioral risk factors during the preceding 3 months were stronger predictors of the seroprevalence and seroincidence of HPV-16 antibody than was lifetime sexual behavior.
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Denver Public Health Department, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, USA. dlt3@cornell.edu.
Deborah L
DL
Thompson
John M
JM
Douglas
Mark
M
Foster
Michael E
ME
Hagensee
Carolyn
C
Diguiseppi
Anna E
AE
Barón
Jennifer E
JE
Cameron
Timothy C
TC
Spencer
Jonathan
J
Zenilman
C Kevin
CK
Malotte
Gail
G
Bolan
Mary L
ML
Kamb
Thomas A
TA
Peterman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G