Naturally Acquired Genotype-Specific HPV Seroreactivity and Subsequent HPV Detection Among Heterosexual Partners

The protective effect of naturally acquired humoral immunity against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains unclear. To investigate the role of infection-induced antibodies on HPV detection in heterosexual partners, we used data from 392 unvaccinated couples (females aged 18-25 years attended up to six visits over 2 years; males aged 17-37 years attended up to two visits 4 months apart) enrolled (2005-2011) in Montreal. Genital and blood samples were HPV DNA genotyped and tested for L1 antibody titers of 14 HPV genotypes. Analyses considered female-HPV units (n = 4914 based on 351 couples) and male-HPV units (n = 4214 based on 301 couples); each female and male, respectively, contributed up to 14 observations corresponding to 14 genotypes. Modified Cox and logistic regressions estimated hazard and odds ratios (HR/OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for genotype-specific HPV detections by partner serostatus (high/low: ≥/< baseline median antibody titers, 392 couples). There were 919 and 231 cumulative HPV detections among female-HPV and male-HPV units, respectively. Risk of HPV detections in females (HR = 1.05, CI: 0.90-1.22) and males (OR = 1.31, CI: 0.97-1.77) was similar between those with partners of high versus low serostatus. Constraining to baseline HPV-negative participants with HPV-positive partners yielded unchanged results. This lack of association suggests that naturally developed HPV antibodies do not protect sexual partners from infection.