title: Serological prevalence and persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection among women in Santiago, Chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) serology is a main factor for designing vaccination programs and surveillance strategies; nevertheless, there are few reports of HPV seroprevalence in the general population, especially in Latin America. This study aimed to describe high-risk HPV serological prevalence, persistence, and association with concurrent cervical infection, in Chilean women.
  
  
  METHODS
  1021 women from the general population, aged 15-85 years, were studied in 2001 of whom 600 were reexamined in 2006. The assessments at both time points included cervical HPV DNA testing, HPV antibody testing, cervical cytology and a sociodemographic/behavioral questionnaire. HPV DNA and antibodies against L1 protein of types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 were assessed by reverse line blot and multiplex serology, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity was high at both baseline (43.2%) and follow-up (50.2%) and increased with age (p < 0.001); corresponding DNA prevalences were 6.7% and 8.7%. DNA and seroprevalence were associated at baseline (p = 0.01 for any HPV). Early age at first sexual intercourse and having had two or more sexual partners were independently associated with seropositivity. Most (82.0%) initially seropositive women remained seropositive at follow-up; 21.6% of initially seronegative women seroconverted, reaching 17.5% among women older than 60 years of age. ASCUS or worse cytology was correlated with HPV DNA positivity but not with HPV seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV seroprevalence studies are a useful tool for learning about the dynamics of HPV infection in a community. This study contributes to understanding the natural history of HPV infection and provides a baseline assessment before the incorporation of HPV vaccination into a national program.
authors.forename: Felipe A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puschel
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van De Wyngard
authors.forename: Peter J F
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Snijders
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlita
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 434, Santiago 8330073, Chile. cferrec@med.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Catterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreccio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral