Infection with HPV is clearly associated with epithelial alteration of genital tract and its oncogenic role is undoubtedly linked to cervical cancer (CC). By contrast, the relevance of the presence of HPV in other sites, like oral cavity, is still poorly studied in major regions of the world with historically high incidence of CC. The aim of our study is to better understand the transmission dynamics of HPV in oral cavity of unvaccinated people from Chaco, a north region of Argentina with a high prevalence of cervical HPV infection and CC. This ongoing research work is feasible thanks to the funds granted by the National Cancer Institute of Argentina.
Our cross-sectional and observational study shows the results of the first 266 samples of a total of 500 that will be collected by december 2017. Oral rinse/gargle samples were obteined from asymptomatic and sexually active volunteers (women and men). People recruited were from differents areas of Resitencia city (Chaco, Argentina), guaranteeing an adecuate population heterogenicity and age distribution. A standardized questionnaire was used to interview the participants regarding their clinical history, sexual behavior, cultural habits and socio-economic and living conditions (data not shown). DNA of each sample was extrated and purified by a comertial kit (High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit, Roche) and the presence of HPV was analyzed by the well known PGMY09/11 general PCR. Positives ones were further studied for HPV genotyping with a comertial kit (HPV Direct-Flow Chip) produced by Master Diagnostica (Vitro Group, Spain).
To date, we have analyzed 266 oral rinses, 118 from men (44,4%; mean age 38 years) and 148 from women (55,6%; mean age 40 years). Six samples (2.3%) were positive for HPV (only in men). There were three cases with a unique HPV detected (HPV-16, -61 and -44/55 respectively); two with multiple genotypes (among them HPV-18, -6, -62/81, -39, -61) and one sample with a non-typifiable HPV type. Regarding the variables possibly associated with HPV infection, it is necessary to finish the samples collection and analysis projected for this work, to conclude properly about them.
HPV infection in the oral mucosa is currently a topic of great interest in many regions of the world. Our study is a contibution to estimates a basal line of oral HPV infection in asymptomatic people. Data colleted will be important to analyze, in future studies, the impact of HPV infection in recognized risk-groups (People living with VIH, immunesupressed, oncology patients, etc) and to evaluate the global impact of the current HPV vaccination strategies in Argentina.
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