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13:41
Use of Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay to Characterize Novel T-cell Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus
Published on: March 8, 2012
Multiple human papillomavirus infections and type competition in men
Anne F Rositch1, Charles Poole, Michael G Hudgens
1Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. arositch@jhsph.edu
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|November 8, 2011
Summary
Multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are common in men, but evidence for type competition, which could affect HPV vaccine efficacy, remains limited. This study found no evidence of HPV type competition in men, suggesting infections occur independently.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited data exists on multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and type competition in men.
- Understanding HPV type competition is crucial for evaluating the type-specific efficacy of HPV vaccination in men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for HPV type competition among uncircumcised men in Kenya.
- To assess whether the presence of one HPV type affects the likelihood of infection with another type.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2702 HIV-seronegative, uncircumcised men in Kisumu, Kenya.
- Observed HPV type counts were compared to expected counts under independent infection models.
- Semi-Bayesian methods were used to estimate odds ratios for pairwise HPV type infections.
Main Results:
- Half of the participants were HPV positive, with 57% having multiple HPV types.
- The prevalence of no HPV infection and infection with four or more HPV types was higher than expected under independence.
- Positive associations were observed between certain non-vaccine HPV types and the carcinogenic vaccine types HPV-16 and HPV-18.
Conclusions:
- Men infected with HPV are frequently coinfected with multiple types.
- Cross-sectional associations between HPV types were generally positive and not type-specific.
- No evidence was found to support HPV type competition in this cohort of men.
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