title: Risk factors for oral human papillomavirus in heterosexual couples in an African setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and factors associated with oral HPV infection were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical, penile and oral HPV types were determined in 221 heterosexual couples by Roche Linear Array HPV genotyping assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral HPV prevalence was found to be 6.8% in women and 13.5% in men (P = 0.23). The risk of oral infection with a specific HPV type in women was increased when the same type was detected in their genital tract (odd ratio (OR): 3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62-8.25, P = 0.002), the genital tract of their male partner (OR: 6.08, 95% CI: 2.90-12.73, P < 0.001) or the mouth of their male partner (OR: 8.30, 95% CI: 1.58-43.50, P = 0.012). In men, the risk of oral infection with a specific HPV type was increased when the same type was detected in the genital tract of their female partner (OR: 7.28, 95% CI: 1.45-36.58, P = 0.016) or the mouth of their female partner (OR: 5.43, 95% CI: 0.79-37.06, P = 0.084) but not when the same type was present in their own genital tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that in African settings oral HPV infection is acquired from sexual partners, and that in women may also be the result of self-inoculation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Center for HIV and STIs, National Institute for Communicable Disease, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. Electronic address: Zizipho.Mbulawa@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Zizipho Z A
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Mbulawa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: Leigh.Johnson@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Leigh F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: maraisdianne@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dianne J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: David.Coetzee@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coetzee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa. Electronic address: Anna-Lise.Williamson@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Anna-Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Human papillomavirus; Oral; Partner