title: Prevalence of genital, oral, and anal HPV infection among STI patients in Italy.
abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a carcinogenic agent responsible for tumor development in many sexually involved tissues. We present a survey on the prevalence of HPV infection in a risk population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The studied population was formed by 125 STI clinic attendees, who took part in a screening program on STIs. To be included in the study, the patients had to show no overt clinical signs of HPV infection. Genital (cervical in women, urethral in men), anal, and oral samples were collected with ThinPrep liquid based cytology preparation system. Overall, of the screened population, 56% proved positive for genital HPV, 37% for oral HPV, and 42% for anal HPV infection. Our data indicate that in STI patients, HPV infection is more prevalent, than previously estimated. Further studies are needed to better understand the epidemiological burden of HPV in sexually involved tissues, especially in the oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: DISSAL Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccarese
authors.affiliation: DISSAL Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herzum
authors.affiliation: DISSAL Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rebora
authors.affiliation: DISSAL Section of Dermatology, IRCCS Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HPV carcinogenicity; anal HPV infection; genital HPV infection; human papillomavirus (HPV); oral HPV infection