Anogenital hairs are an important reservoir of alpha-papillomaviruses in patients with genital warts.
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) were detected in 69 (43.7%) of 158 and in 7 (4.5%) of 155 anogenital hairs obtained from 53 patients with genital warts (GWs) and from 53 age-matched healthy control subjects, respectively. At least 1 hair sample was positive for 69.8% of patients and for 13.2% of control subjects. For patients, HPV was detected in 64.2%, 39.6%, and 26.9% of hairs plucked from the pubic, scrotal, and perianal regions, respectively. For 91.9% of patients, the same HPV genotype was identified in GWs and hairs from at least 1 sampling site. Having GWs was found to be strongly associated with the presence in anogenital hairs of the HPV genotype causing the GWs (range of odds ratios, 13.0-20.0).
Poljak
Mario
M
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. mario.poljak@mf.uni-lj.si
Kocjan
Bostjan J
BJ
Potocnik
Marko
M
Seme
Katja
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000821:virology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D052816:Foreskin / Q000821:virology; D006197:Hair / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012611:Scrotum / Q000821:virology; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D014844:Vulva / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral