Currently, three prophylactic HPV vaccines are commercially available to prevent HPV 16/18 infection and associated lesions. The aim of the study was to assess markers of HPV infection in women/girls before vaccination and to ascertain the prevalence and spectrum of post-vaccination HPV types. Three hundred and thirty subjects of which 75 were virgins were enrolled. Before the first dose of the HPV vaccine and 1, 3 and 5 years after the completion of HPV vaccination, the samples for cytology, HPV detection and anti-HPV antibody response were taken. At enrolment, HPV DNA was detected in 38% of sexually active girls/women. At the first, second and third follow-up, HPV DNA was found in 40, 45, and 39% of them. The seroprevalence rates to HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 in these subjects were 31, 21, 18 and 10%. On the follow-up significantly higher levels of antibodies to HPV 16/18 were found after application of divalent vaccine. Results of the study demonstrate high prevalence of HPV infection in young women. In a substantial number of women, HPV-specific antibodies as well as high-risk HPV types were detected. HPV-specific antibodies were also frequently found in non-sexually active girls. The acquisition of HPV after the onset of sexual life was very fast.
Keywords: DNA; HPV; antibodies; infection; persistence; vaccination.
© 2017 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.