title: Prevalence and risk factors for oral HPV infection in young Australians.
abstract: The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers is increasing, but the prevalence of oral HPV infection in the wider community remains unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of, and identify risk factors for, oral HPV infection in a sample of young, healthy Australians. For this study, we recruited 307 Australian university students (18-35 years). Participants reported anonymously about basic characteristics, sexual behaviour, and alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs use. We collected oral rinse samples from all participants for HPV testing and typing. Seven of 307 (2.3%) students tested positive for oral HPV infection (3 HPV-18, one each of HPV-16, -67, -69, -90), and six of them were males (p = 0.008). Compared to HPV negative students, those with oral HPV infection were more likely to have received oral sex from more partners in their lifetime (p = 0.0004) and in the last year (p = 0.008). We found no statistically significant associations with alcohol consumption, smoking or numbers of partners for passionate kissing or sexual intercourse. In conclusion, oral HPV infection was associated with male gender and receiving oral sex in our sample of young Australians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonsson
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornford
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult