Male Human Papillomavirus Infection and Genotyping in Turkey

High-risk (HR) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to play an important role in men in various locations in Turkey. This study aims to screen the male persistent infection with the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype status in Turkey to provide a reference basis for formulating prevention strategies for the development of genitourinary tract neoplasia.

The HPV QUANT-21 Quantitative RT-PCR Kit® was used to identify and quantify low-risk HPV (HPV 6, 11, 44) and high-risk (HPV 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 73, 82) from male individuals in Turkey.

Of the total 1304 samples, 473 were positive for at least one HPV genotype, with an overall frequency of 36.2%. Two-hundred fifty-four patients were positive only for one or more LR   HPV genotypes (54%), and 219 patients were positive for one or more HR HPV genotypes (46%). The LR HPV genotype frequency was 53.7%, while the HR HPV genotype frequency was 46.3%. Our technology had the positive advantage of being able to calculate concentrations for each genotype. Genotype 51 was second in frequency but had the highest average concentration of 5.38 log (copies/sample).

The presence and genotype of the virus before HPV vaccination are also of increasing importance. The data obtained will serve as a guide for prevention strategies, especially vaccination. Based on our findings there is a need of new estimates of the efficacy of currently available HPV vaccines and to develop a screening program to prevent and reduce the incidence of genitourinary tract neoplasias in Turkey. Further studies are planned to measure and define the high levels of infection that may lead to the development of cervical tumors. Using this technique, it may be possible to make clinical decisions about the extent of cytological alterations.