A large number of HPV types, distributed over five papillomavirus genera, is detectable in the skin. HPV types belonging to the alpha, gamma and mu genus have been detected in cutaneous warts. A... Show moreA large number of HPV types, distributed over five papillomavirus genera, is detectable in the skin. HPV types belonging to the alpha, gamma and mu genus have been detected in cutaneous warts. A state-of-the-art HPV genotyping assay for these cutaneous wart-associated HPV types does not exist, although warts constitute a highly prevalent skin condition especially in children (33%) and organ transplant recipients (45%). Cutaneous warts are again the focus of attention as their clinical relevance rises with the increasing number of chronically immunosuppressed patients. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a DNA based genotyping system for all known cutaneous wart-related HPV types using PCR and Luminex xMAP technology. The broad spectrum PCR amplified DNA of all known wart-associated HPV types from the alpha- (HPV2, 3, 7, 10, 27, 28, 29, 40, 43, 57, 77, 91 and 94), gamma- (4, 65, 95, 48, 50, 60 and 88), mu- (HPV1 and 63) and nu-genus (HPV41). The probes were evaluated using plasmid HPV DNA and a panel of 45 previously characterised cutaneous wart biopsies showing high specificity. HPV has also been identified in 96% of 100 swabs from non-genital cutaneous warts. HPV types 1, 2, 27 and 57 were the most prevalent HPV types detected in 89% of the swabs. In conclusion, this Luminex based genotyping system identifies all known cutaneous wart HPV types including phylogenetically related types, is highly HPV-type specific and is suitable for large-scale epidemiological studies. Show less
