Seroprevalence of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 and correlates of exposure in unvaccinated women aged 16–64 years in Puerto Rico

• Main Authors: A.P. Ortiz, G. Tortolero-Luna, J. Romaguera, C.M. Pérez, D. González, C. Muñoz, L. González, E. Marrero, E. Suárez, J.M. Palefsky, G. Panicker, E.R. Unger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-06-01
• Series: Papillomavirus Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405852117300769

Background: To understand risk factors for HPV exposure in Puerto Rican women, we evaluated HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 serology in women aged living in the San Juan metropolitan area. Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study, a population-based sample of 524 HPV unvaccinated Hispanic women ages 16–64 years completed face-to-face and computer assisted interviews and provided blood and self-collected anal and cervical specimens. Serology used multiplex virus-like particle based-IgG ELISA and HPV DNA was detected with L1-consensus PCR. Results: 32% and 47% were seropositive to HPV types included in the bivalent (16/18) and quadrivalent (6/11/16/18) vaccines, respectively. Type-specific seroprevalence was HPV6 − 29%, HPV11 − 18%, HPV16 − 23%, and HPV18 − 17%; seroprevalence was high in the youngest age-group (16–19: 26–37%). HPV seropositivity was associated with having ≥ 3 lifetime sexual partners (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.7–3.9) and detection of anogenital HPV DNA (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.2–2.6). Conclusions: The high cumulative exposure of HPV vaccine types 6/11/16/18 in this Hispanic population was influenced by factors related to HPV exposure through sexual behavior. High seroprevalence in the youngest age-group indicates early age of exposure to HPV in Puerto Rico, highlighting the need for HPV vaccination starting prior to age 16.