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. 2018 Jun:5:1-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.pvr.2017.11.002. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Prevalence and correlates of beta human papillomavirus detection in fingernail samples from mid-adult women

Rachel L Winer  1 , Tarik Gheit  2 , Stephen Cherne  3 , John Lin  4 , Joshua E Stern  5 , Mario Poljak  6 , Qinghua Feng  7 , Massimo Tommasino  8
Affiliations

Prevalence and correlates of beta human papillomavirus detection in fingernail samples from mid-adult women

Rachel L Winer et al. Papillomavirus Res. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have not been evaluated in fingernails from healthy individuals. To determine prevalence and correlates of β-HPVs in fingernails from healthy mid-adult women, we tested archived samples collected from 2011 to 2012 using a multiplex PCR combined with Luminex technology for 46 β-HPV genotypes. One hundred thirteen (61.1%) of 185 fingernail samples were positive for β-HPV, and the median number of types detected in positive samples was 2 (interquartile range: 1-4). The most common genotypes detected were HPV-23 (β-2) (13.5%), HPV-38 (β-2) (13.0%), HPV-5 (β-1) (9.2%), HPV-107 (β-2) (8.7%), and HPV-120 (β-2) (8.7%). In multivariate analysis, β-HPV detection was associated with age (prevalence ratio [PR] for women 40-51 years versus 30-39 years = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.62) and race (PR for non-white versus white race = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45-0.94). The prevalence of β-HPV in fingernail samples from healthy mid-adult women was similar to the prevalence of β-HPV reported at other cutaneous sites in prior studies. We did not identify any significant health or sexual behavior predictors of β-HPV detection in fingernails. Our results support the hypothesis that fingers may serve as a source of transmission or autoinoculation of cutaneous HPVs to other anatomic sites.

Keywords: Beta-HPV; Fingernails; Mid-adult; Prevalence; Risk factor; Women.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
β-HPV prevalence in fingernail samples from mid-adult women (n = 185).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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