HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 seroprevalence in men in a clinic-based study

Background:
A vaccine to prevent HPV 6, 11, 16 or 18 and associated diseases is licensed for use in females age 9-26 years, and this vaccine may be licensed for men in the future. There are limited data on HPV 6/11, 16 or 18 seroprevalence in men, an indication of cumulative exposure.

Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to HPV 6/11, 16, and 18 among men.

Method:
Serum was collected from 492 men enrolled in a study on HPV in men in 2 U.S. cities. Enrolled men were 18 to 40 years old, had sex with a woman within the past year and had no history of genital warts. Antibodies to HPV types 6/11, 16 and 18 were evaluated using a virus like particle assay at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). Bivariate analyses were conducted to describe seroprevalence by age group.

Result:
Overall, seroprevalence to HPV 6, 11, 16 or 18 was 20%; seroprevalence of HPV 6/11 was 9.1%, of HPV 16 was 12.8% and of HPV 18 was 5.1%. Seroprevalence to HPV 6, 11, 16 or 18 was 38.2% among 35-40 year olds, the oldest age group; prevalence in this age group was significantly higher compared to the 18-24 year olds (13.9%, OR 5.35, 95% CI 3.05-9.38).

Conclusion:
A substantial percentage of 18-24 year old men had evidence of exposure to HPV types 6, 11, 16 or 18 and seroprevalence was highest in 35-40 year olds. These data suggests that many men by young adulthood acquire infection with at least one of these 4 HPV types.

Implications:
The quadrivalent HPV vaccine may be licensed for use in men in the future and these data may be useful when recommendations to vaccinate men are considered.