Oral prevalence and clearance of oncogenic human papilloma virus in a rehabilitation community for substance abusers in Italy: a case of behavioral correction?
BACKGROUND
Human papilloma virus oral infection can be related to several factors including HIV infection, cigarette smoking, marijuana consumption and number of sexual partners. We conducted a study on oral HPV prevalence and clearance among the hosts of the San Patrignano community, a population considered at "high-risk" for HPV due to their previous habits.


METHODS
From March 2007 to September 2010 all subjects were submitted to oropharyngeal brushing and saliva collection at baseline, after 6, 12 and 48 months (for subjects HPV positive at baseline). Samples were analyzed to detect HPV DNA and virus genotypes. The correlation between HPV prevalence and demographic, behavioral or immunological characteristics was assessed.


RESULTS
Among 194 subjects, 30 (15%) were HPV positive with 25 (13%) high-risk (HR)-HPV at baseline brushing. At 12 months HPV infection was cleared in all cases. However at 48 months HPV was newly detected in 33% of subjects. A correlation between time spent in the community and increase in the ratio of "low-risk" (LR) HPV and HR-HPV was observed. HPV infection was not associated with age, gender, HIV status, HCV, alcohol and/or drug exposure, number of years spent in community, sex with drug-addicts and condom use. Only AIDS under antiretroviral treatment was inversely correlated with the risk of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
At 1 year a complete HPV clearance was observed which could be related to adoption of healthier lifestyles of participants. New HPV infections were detected even in the absence of the recognized and declared risky behavioral factors, suggesting a re-expression from a latent infection.
Odontostomathology Service, Centro Medico San Patrignano, Coriano, Rimini, Italy.
Davide B
DB
Pugliese
Odontostomathology Service, Centro Medico San Patrignano, Coriano, Rimini, Italy.
Giacomo
G
Bruzzesi
Surgery and Odontostomathology Science Department, Oral Cavity Biotechnology Service, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Caterina
C
Montaldo
Laboratory of Methodology for Biomedical Research, Oncology Department, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
Luca
L
Porcu
Fondazione ANDI Onlus, Turin, Italy.
Marco
M
Landi
Surgery and Odontostomathology Science Department, Oral Cavity Biotechnology Service, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Andrea
A
Mastinu
Laboratory of Methodology for Biomedical Research, Oncology Department, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
Valter
V
Torri
Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Lisa
L
Licitra
Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Laura D
LD
Locati
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000821:virology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
clearance; human papilloma virus; oral infection; rehabilitation community