High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) are considered necessary for the development of cervical cancer. Furthermore, there is no doubt that some types of oral squamous cell carcinoma are associated with HR-HPV. The epidemiology of oral HPV infections in healthy subjects remains unclear due to a lack of knowledge. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of human papillomavirus infections of the oral mucosa without pathology. A cross-sectional study was performed; samples from 390 women seeking prenatal care, Pap smears, family planning or gynecological diseases were studied. Oral cells were collected by direct swab sampling. Information regarding sociodemographic status, sexual behavior, infectious diseases, contraceptive history and tobacco and alcohol consumption were obtained through direct interviews. HPV and genotypes were detected by type-specific polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that 14% of the women studied had an oral HPV infection. Women ≤ 20 years of age had the highest HPV prevalence (24.5%). In total, seven genotypes were identified, including the high-risk genotypes 16, 18, 58 and 59 and the low-risk genotypes 6, 81 and 13, the latter of which is a type exclusive to oral mucosa. Sexual behavior was not associated with the presence of genital HPV types in the oral mucosa. Genital HPV types were present in the oral mucosa of women without associated clinical manifestations; however, sexual behavior was not associated with infection, and therefore others routes of transmission should be explored.

Papilomavírus humano de alto risco (HR-HPV) é um fator reconhecido como necessário para o desenvolvimento de câncer cervical. Na última década vários estudos encontraram HR-HPV em OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) e em mucosa oral normal, mas a associação entre HR-HPV e OSCC não é bem conhecida. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar DNA de HR-HPV na cavidade oral normal de adultos saudáveis. Realizou-se um estudo cross-sectional com amostras da cavidade oral normal de 77 pacientes da Escola de Odontologia da Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, México. HR-HPV foi detectado através de Captura Híbrida 2. Uma amostra em 77 (1,2%) foi positiva para HR-PVH e era proveniente de um homem de 50 anos de idade. Concluiu-se que HR-HPV tem baixa prevalência na mucosa oral normal e a Captura Híbrida 2 pode ser um método adequado para estudos epidemiológicos.

High risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) are recognized as a necessary factor to development cervical cancer. During the last decade many studies have found HR-HPV in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa, however the association between HR-HPV and OSCC is still uncertain. The aim of the study was to determine DNA HR-HPV in normal oral cavity of healthy adults. A cross-sectional study was performed; samples from 77 patients with normal oral cavity were collected at the Dentistry school, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, México. HR-HPV was detected by hybrid capture 2. One sample out of 77(1.2%) was positive for HR-PVH. It was from a man of 50 years old. HR-HPV is present in low rate among healthy oral mucosa. Hybrid capture 2 could be a good methodology for large epidemiology studies.

Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia y los genotipos de los papillomavirus humanos (PVH) en mujeres con lesiones escamosas intraepiteliales de bajo grado (LEIBG). Métodos: noventa y seis mujeres de la clínica de colposcopia fueron incluidas. La presencia del ADN de los PVH en las biopsias fue determinada por ensayo de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RCP) con oligonucleótidos para el gen L1. Las muestras fueron coamplificadas con MY09/MY11/HMB01 e iniciadores para betaglobina GH20/PC04. Para tipificar se utilizó hibridación reversa en línea. Resultados: el ADN de PVH fue detectado en 28/96 (29,1%) pacientes, de las cuales 21/28 (75%) tuvieron infección con un solo tipo y 7/28 (25%); infección múltiple. En 29/39 (74,3%) fueron de alto riesgo y 10/39 (25,7%) de bajo riesgo. Encontramos 13 diferentes tipos, 9/13 (69,2%) de ellos de alto riesgo. PVH 58 fue el tipo más frecuente. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de VPH en mujeres con diagnóstico citológico de LEIBG fue menor que la esperada; este resultado sugiere una clasificación inadecuada de los diagnósticos.

Objective: to determine the prevalence and types of HPV in women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). Methods: ninety-six women were sequentially enrolled from the colposcopy clinic. The presence of HPV DNA in the biopsies was determined by L1 consensus primer polymerase chain reaction assay. The samples were co-amplified with biotinylated MY09/MY11/HMB01 and GH20/PC04 beta-globin primers. Reverse line blot hybridization was used for typing the samples. Results: HPV DNA was detected in 28/96 (29.1%) patients. From these, 21/28 (75%) had a single HPV infection and 7/28 (25%) had multiple infection; 29/39 (74.3 %) had high-risk subtypes and 10/39 (25.7%) had low-risk. Thirteen different types were found; most of them were high-risk HPV subtypes (9/13, 69.2%). HPV 58 was the most frequently found subtype. Conclusions: the HPV prevalence in women with LSIL was lower than expected; these results suggest a misclassification in the diagnosis.

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar las variables epidemiológicas asociadas a la infección por papilomavirus humano en un grupo de mujeres mexicanas. En un estudio prospectivo, transversal y comparativo, se estudiaron 470 mujeres que acudieron para valoración citológica y colposcópica; previo al examen ginecológico se les realizó una entrevista en la cual se consignó la ficha de identidad, historia reproductiva, anticonceptiva, sexual, tabaquismo pasivo y activo. El diagnóstico de papilomavirus se realizó por citología y colposcopia. Las mujeres infectadas fueron más jóvenes y tuvieron menos embarazos y partos que las mujeres sanas. En el análisis multivariado la edad de las pacientes y la edad del primer embarazo resultaron ser factores protectores contra la infección. A diferencia de otras investigaciones, este estudio no encontró ninguna asociación entre la infección con papilomavirus y la conducta sexual.

The purpose of the study is to determine the epidemiological variables associated to human papillomavirus infection in a group of Mexican women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 470 women enrolled for Pap smear and colposcopy. Previous to gynecological examination women were interviewed about demographic data, reproductive and contraceptive history, sexual behavior and smoking. The diagnosis of papillomavirus was done by cytology and colposcopy. Women infected were younger and had less pregnancies and childbirth than healthy women. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the age of patients and the age of their first pregnancy were protective factors against the infection. Unlike previous research, this study found no associations between human papillomavirus and sexual behavior.