The heterogeneity of Human Papilloma Virus genotypes in the oropharyngeal cavity, anus, and urogenital sites

The distribution of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) genotypes is not homogeneous among the infected cells in a specific anatomical site. Thus, we conducted a prospective cross-sectional study with 2,130 Mexican men and women aged 16 to 80 years. We described the prevalence of HPV genotypes at the oropharyngeal cavity, anus, and urogenital sites. The most prevalent genotypes in women were HR-HPV 66 (5.6%), 16 (4.2%), 59 (4.3%) and LR-HPV 6 (10.1%); for men, HR-HPV 16 (4.2%), 53 (3.8%), 66 (3.5%) and LR-HPV 6 (14.1%). In the cervix the most frequent genotypes were: 6 (7.7%) and 66 (4.6%); vagina 6 (0.4%) and 16 (0.4%); genital wart 6 (5.9%) and 11 (2.7%); external genitalia 6 (0.5%) and 66 (0.5%); oropharyngeal cavity 6 (0.06%) and 66 (0.05%). In both genders, the most frequent genotype was HPV 6. The prevalence of HPV genotypes 31 (p=0.016), 52 (p=0.049), 56 (0.036), 6 (p<0.0001) and 11 (p<0.0001) showed significant differences when comparing genders. The kappa analysis demonstrated that in males, the HPV genotypes in the urethra/ balanopreputial sulcus and urethral/genital warts had moderate concordance. In conclusion, HPV genotyping screening tests among anatomical sites should be performed simultaneously to reinforce current strategies, as well as for the development of vaccines and the discovery of oncogenic potential for genotypes that are not commonly analyzed.