Structure

Transmission

Pathogenesis

Clinical findings

Laboratory diagnosis

Treatment

Family: papillomavirus

Genome: double-strand circular DNA

Size: 52-55nm

Icosahedral nucleocapsid with 72 capsomeres.

Nonenveloped

At least 60 types

Transmitted primarily by:

- skin-to-skin contact

- genital contact

Most commonly sexually transmitted diseases.

Skin warts are more common in children and young adults and tend to regress in older adults.

In malignant cells, viral DNA is integrated into host cell DNA in the vicinity of cellular oncogenes and E6 and E7 are overexpressed.

Skin and plantar warts are caused primarily by HPV-1 through HPV-4.

Genital warts are caused primarily by HPV-6 and HPV-11.

Carcinoma of uterine cervix, penis and anus as well as premalignant lesions called intraepithelial neoplasia are associated with infection by HPV-16 and HPV-18.

Diagnosis: presence of koilocytes in lesions..

Serologic tests are rarely done.

Virus has not been isolated in cell culture.

Cervical cytology.

Southern blotting of HPV DNA.

Genital warts: podophyllin.

Interferon alpha is effective and better at preventing recurrences.

Skin warts: liquid nitrogen.

Plantar warts:

- surgical removal

- topically applied salicylic acid.

No vaccine.