Cutaneous HPV and alpha-mucosal 9-valent HPV sero-status associations

Seroepidemiology of human papillomaviruses (HPV) among men is poorly understood. We examined the association between seropositivity to cutaneous HPV and 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) types. Six hundred men were randomly selected from the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study. Archived serum specimens were tested for antibodies against 9vHPV types [low-risk (6/11) and high-risk (16/18/31/33/45/52/58)], and 14 cutaneous types, including β-types 5/8/12/14/17/22/23/24/38/47, α-type-27, γ-type-4, µ-type-1, and ν-type-41, using a GST L1-based multiplex serology assay. Risk factor data were collected through questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between mucosal and cutaneous HPV types. Approximately 21% of men were positive for ≥ 1 cutaneous HPV type, and ≥ 1 nine-valent HPV vaccine type at the same time. Men who were seropositive for any-cutaneous HPV were nearly twice as likely to be seropositive for 9vHPV (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–2.99), high-risk (AOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.04–3.20), low-risk (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.16–3.18), and four-valent, 4vHPV, (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.25–3.21). Type-specific cutaneous HPV seropositivity (types: 8/14/17/23/38/27/4/1) was also positively associated with seropositivity to 9vHPV, high-risk, and low-risk categories. These data indicate that exposure to cutaneous HPV and 9vHPV types is common. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess the temporality of these associations.