title: Prevalence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) expression of the inner prepuce in asymptomatic boys and men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) human papillomavirus (HPV) in prepuces of boys and men without any HPV related lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2009 and 2011, a total collective of 250 boys and men were investigated in this prospective study. The samples were subdivided into 3 groups regarding their age, consisting of 125 (50%) children (0-10 years), 38 (15.2%) adolescents (11-20 years) and 87 (34.8%) adults (>20 years). In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed to detect HR and LR virus types within the epithelium, followed by microscopic interpretation and determination between episomal and integrative signal pattern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results revealed high levels of HPV concentration (HR and LR) in all age groups: HR versus LR positivity was seen in 45.5 versus 35% (children), 60.6 versus 63.6% (adolescents) and 58.3 versus 48.6% (adults). The topmost rate of HR (59.8%)- and LR (50.6%)-positive probes was found in the group with high estimated sexual activity (>14 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerning the high prevalence of male HPV infection even in children, indicating non-sexual transmission pathways, inclusion of boys in the vaccination program seems to be required reducing their burden of HPV related disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria, Gerald.Klinglmair@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klinglmair
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zelger
authors.forename: Hasan Serkan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esterbauer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riccabona
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loidl
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Horninger
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oswald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004848:Epithelium / Q000821:virology; D052816:Foreskin / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines