title: Prevalence of human papillomavirus in saliva of women with HPV genital lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are DNA viruses associated with benign and malignant lesions of skin and mucous membranes. The HPVs has been implicated as the cause of virtually all cervical cancers worldwide but studies showed that these viruses can cause numerous cancers in several tissues including Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). At least 90 % of HPV-positive OSCCs are associated with high-risk (or oncogenic) HPV-16 and oral infection confers an approximate 50-fold increase in risk for HPV-positive OSCC. HPV-positive OSCCs are associated with sexual behaviors in contrast to HPV-negative OSCCs that are associated with chronic tobacco and alcohol use. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HPV-DNA in saliva samples collected from women in which it has been previously established the HPV infection of the cervix with relative genotyping and, then, to study the possible correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva samples were collected from 100 women with HPV cervical lesions, aged between 22 and 52 years old, and 25 healthy women with normal cytology (control group), aged between 20 and 49 years old. PCR assay was used to detect HPV DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of oral HPV infection in saliva samples was 24 % in women with HPV cervical lesions while in the control group was 8 %. It has been demonstrated a strong association between high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and oral infection due to HPV16 and 18, that are the most frequently detected HPV genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that patients with genital HPV infection are at risk for oral infection and, consequently, for the development of OSCC.
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Giuseppa
authors: 0000-0002-9072-1148
authors: G
authors: Visalli
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Currò
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Facciolà
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Romana
authors: R
authors: Riso
authors: Riuniti Papardo Piemonte Hospital, Messina, Italy.
authors: Placido
authors: P
authors: Mondello
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Pasqualina
authors: P
authors: Laganà
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Di Pietro
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Isa
authors: I
authors: Picerno
authors: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Gazzi, 98100 Messina, Italy.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Spataro
keywords: HPV; HSIL; Head-neck cancer; Saliva