Higher prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infection in HIV-positive than HIV-negative Thai men and women

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among HIV-positive and HIV-negative Thai men and women.

Methods: Participants including men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual women were enrolled at the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic in Bangkok. History taking and oral examination were performed by three independent dentists after calibration. HPV infection was evaluated from oral rinse with mouthwash collected at the time of examination. HPV typing was performed by PCR and nucleic acid hybridization to detect thirty-seven HPV DNA genotypes using Linear Array(®) HPV Genotyping Test (Roche Molecular System, Inc.).

Results: 244 subjects were enrolled in the study, consisted of 187 HIV-positive (51.9% women and 48.1% MSM) and 57 HIV-negative (21.0% women and 79.0% MSM) Thai subjects. The prevalence of oral HPV infection was 17.2% in HIV-positive subjects whereas only 5.3% of HIV-negative cases had HPV detected in their oral rinses (p=0.0346). Among HIV positive subjects, MSM had higher chance of having HPV infection than females (25% vs. 9.4%, p=0.0074).

Conclusions: HIV-positive Thai MSM and women had higher prevalence of oral HPV infection than those without HIV.

Keywords: HIV; HPV; MSM; Oral cavity; Oropharyngeal cancer.