HPV DNA identified in oral cavity of 6.2 percent of teen girls

(HealthDay)—Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is detected in the oral cavities of about 6.2 percent of sexually active female adolescents, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in JAMA Network Open.

Nicolas F. Schlecht, Ph.D., from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, and colleagues examined the prevalence of HPV in the oral cavity in a longitudinal cohort study involving repeated collection of oral rinse specimens from sexually active female adolescents. A total of 1,259 participants were included in the study.

The researchers found that first sexual activity occurred at a median age of 14.8 years, and 92.2 percent of participants reported participating in oral sexual activity. In baseline oral rinse samples, HPV DNA was detected in 6.2 percent of participants. Independent of age and concurrent detection of cervical HPV, there was a significant decrease in oral HPV detection with time (in years) since first engaging in sexual activities (odds ratio, 0.45 for four or more years versus one year or less). Participants who had received one or more dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine at the time of enrollment had significantly lower detection of vaccine types (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18) compared with those who were unvaccinated (odds ratio, 0.20).

"We observed a significant vaccination benefit reflected by the lower prevalence of 4vHPV vaccine types," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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