Population seroprevalence of human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in men, women, and children in Australia.
BACKGROUND
Representative population-based data on human papillomavirus (HPV) epidemiology are important for public health decision making but are difficult to obtain. Seroepidemiology is a valuable tool, although the relationship between HPV infection and seropositivity is incomplete.


METHODS
We obtained a large representative sample using residual diagnostic test serum samples obtained from individuals aged 0-69 years (1247 samples from male patients and 1523 samples from female patients) in Australia. Serum antibody levels to HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 were measured using an immunoassay.


RESULTS
Overall, seroprevalence of HPV types 6 and 16 was higher than seroprevalence of HPV types 11 and 18. Among female patients, peak HPV seropositivity occurred among those who were 30-39 years of age for types 6, 16, and 18 (22%, 22%, and 10.5%, respectively) and among those who were 40-49 years of age for HPV 11 (11.8%). Among male subjects, peak HPV seropositivity occurred among those who were 40-49 years of age for types 6 and 11 (15.4% and 9.1%, respectively) and among those who were 50-59 years of age for types 16 and 18 (14.3% and 8.2%, respectively). No cases of HPV seropositivity were detected in individuals <10 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Australian seroepidemiological data, showing differing age-specific patterns of HPV seropositivity in male and female patients, are likely to be generalizable to other developed countries and add to other data supporting completion of HPV vaccination before adolescence.
Newall
Anthony T
AT
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. AnthonyN@chw.edu.au
Brotherton
Julia M L
JM
Quinn
Helen E
HE
McIntyre
Peter B
PB
Backhouse
Josephine
J
Gilbert
Lynn
L
Esser
Mark T
MT
Erick
Joanne
J
Bryan
Janine
J
Formica
Neil
N
MacIntyre
C Raina
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D052140:Human papillomavirus 11 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044382:Population Groups; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral