RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prevalence of HPV Types in a Cohort of Greeks with Clinical Indication of Infection JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 2233 OP 2237 VO 28 IS 4B A1 CHRISTOS YAPIJAKIS A1 MARIA ADAMOPOULOU A1 GEORGIOS ANTONOPOULOS A1 NIKOS KOUFALIOTIS A1 ELEFTHERIOS VAIRAKTARIS YR 2008 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/4B/2233.abstract AB Background: Several types of human papilloma virus (HPV) have been associated with increased risk for epithelial malignancies. In light of a recently available vaccine that protects against persistent infection by certain HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18) and resulting neoplasias, the prevalence of HPV types was investigated in a cohort of people with a suspected viral infection. Patients and Methods: The studied material consisted of genital or oral scrapings obtained from 263 consecutively referred Greeks (aged 18-64 years) with a clinical indication of HPV infection. DNA samples isolated from scrapings were tested by PCR, using consensus primers for at least 50 HPV types. In cases of detected viral DNA sequence, HPV typing was performed by restriction analysis using 4 enzymes and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Results: 215/263 (81.7%) of the samples were HPV-positive. HPV types associated with high risk for neoplasias were detected in 91/215 (42.3%), intermediate risk types in 64/215 (29.8%) and low-risk types in 60/215 (27.9%) of the positive samples. A total of 85/215 (39.5%) were positive for one of the vaccine-related types. Furthermore, types 16 and 18 comprised about the same proportion of the high-risk types detected in this study (35/91, 38.5%). Conclusion: The observed high prevalence rate of high-risk types underlines the importance of testing individuals with an indication of a possible HPV infection. In addition, there is a need for prevention strategies, such as the annual Pap smear screening of women, as well as wider use of HPV molecular screening and vaccines targeted at common HPV types. Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved