Detection of Human Papillomavirus in Urogenital Swabs from Male Patients in Northern Serbia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, affecting both men and women. However, in Serbia, the previous epidemiological and clinical research on HPV has primarily focused on women due to its established role in cervical cancer, while the data on HPV prevalence in men remain scarce. This study analyzed 634 samples from men (mean age: 30 years, SD = 9.98; range: 18-79) from between 2012 and 2024. Overall, 30.76% of the tested men were HPV-positive, with the highest percentage of cases being observed in those aged 25-29 years (32.82%). The most common genotypes were HPV 16 and HPV 31 (22.05% each), followed by HPV6 (20.51%), HPV 56, and HPV 52 (9.23% each). The prevalence of HPV was the highest in the samples from men with genital warts (40.77%). Among the available vaccines, the nonavalent Gardasil 9 provides the broadest protection, covering genotypes found in 82% of the HPV-positive cases identified in this study. Our findings underscore the importance of comprehensive HPV prevention and control measures for the male population, contributing to ongoing research efforts aimed at reducing the burden of HPV-associated diseases in our region. Increasing the vaccination coverage among Serbian men could substantially reduce the overall burden of HPV-related diseases in both sexes.