The prevalence and incidence of oral human papillomavirus infection among young men and women, aged 18-30 years.
BACKGROUND
Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, yet little is known about the epidemiology and natural history of infection.


METHODS
At a baseline and 3-month follow-up visit, 1000 young adults aged 18 to 30 years provided an oral rinse sample and completed a survey assessing demographic and behavioral risk factors. The oral rinse sample was analyzed for 37 types of HPV by use of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay. Factors associated with oral HPV detection were analyzed using univariate and bivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of oral HPV infection was 2.4% (95% CI: 1.4-3.4). Ever having consumed alcohol (OR, 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.8), 5 or more lifetime open-mouth kissing (OR, 4.0; 95% CI: 1.1-14.8) or lifetime oral sex (OR, 4.0; 95% CI: 1.3-11.9) partners were associated with infection, controlling for lifetime vaginal sex partners. The incidence rate for oral HPV infection was 5.67 (95% CI: 3.12-8.16) per 1000 person-months. Incident infection was associated in univariate analysis with black race (OR, 4.7; 95% CI: 1.7-13.5) and having open-mouth kissed a new partner in the previous 3 months (OR, 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0-6.4).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides further evidence that oral sexual contact in the form of both oral-oral and oral-genital contact could play a role in the transmission of oral HPV.
Viral Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
Robert K L
RK
Pickard
Weihong
W
Xiao
Tatevik R
TR
Broutian
Xin
X
He
Maura L
ML
Gillison
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult