Evaluation of Genital Sites and Sampling Techniques for Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Men

Abstract

To evaluate methods for detection of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in men, samples were obtained from 3 consecutive groups of 10 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic by use of (1) a saline-wetted Dacron swab alone, (2) a saline-wetted cytobrush, or (3) emery paper (600A-grit Wetordry Tri-M-ite; 3M) abrasion followed by a saline-wetted Dacron swab. By use of a polymerase chain reaction-based assay, 45% of emery-paper samples were found to be positive for beta-globin, compared with 23% of swab-alone and 0% of cytobrush samples. Subsequently, emery paper and saline-wetted Dacron swabs were used to obtain penile shaft, glans, foreskin, and scrotum samples from 318 male university students. Urine samples were also obtained. Of 1323 samples tested, 1288 (97%) were found to be positive for beta-globin. HPV DNA was detected in samples from 104 men (33%): 24% from the penile shaft, 16% from the glans, 28% from the foreskin, 17% from the scrotum, and 6% in urine. The HPV prevalence was similar for circumcised and uncircumcised men. Testing multiple sites increased the number of men for whom HPV DNA was detected.

Evaluation of dry and wet transport of at-home self-collected vaginal swabs for human papillomavirus testing

“…Samples were tested for HPV DNA using PCR-based methods described previously (Winer et al, 2003;Weaver et al, 2004). Purified DNA (2 ml; one 250th of each sample) was amplified in 50 ml PCR reaction volumes and 10 ml of the resultant PCR products were dotted onto nylon filters and probed with both biotin-labelled HPV generic probe and a biotin-labelled bglobin probe.…”

Why circumcision is a biomedical imperative for the 21stcentury

“…(38) The penile distribution of HPV is: prepuce 28%, shaft 24%, scrotum 17%, glans 16% and urine 6%. (39) HPVs produce lesions visible only by application of dilute acetic acid to the penis; in contrast low-risk HPVs present as visible warts. (43) The majority of infections are subclinical, and are more prevalent in uncircumcised men with balanoposthitis.…”

Human papillomavirus genotypes and HPV16 variants in penile carcinoma

“…9 Epidemiological studies have indicated that HPVs are sexually transmitted pathogens infecting the male and female squamous epithelium of the anogenital tract with similar prevalence rates (28%) in symptom-less university students. 10 Moreover, sub-clinical penile lesions (flat penile lesions) are frequently found in male sexual partners of women with CIN, with HPV infection rates of 73% and genotype concordance of 36% within the couples. 11 The prevalence of HPV-related high-grade penile intraepithelial neoplasia, however, is very low suggesting that penile tissue is less prone to maintain persistent infection and to undergo neoplastic transformation.…”