High seroprevalence of multiple high-risk human papillomavirus types among the general population of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 38; no. 13; pp. 2816 - 2826
• Main Authors: Vos, Regnerus A., Pasmans, Hella, Tymchenko, Liza, Janga-Jansen, Alcira V.A., Baboe-Kalpoe, Sharda, Hulshof, Koen, de Melker, Hester E., van der Klis, Fiona R.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 17.03.2020; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alphapapillomavirus - classification; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Cancer; Cancer screening; Caribbean Netherlands; Cervical cancer; Cervical cancer screening; Cervix; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Girls; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immunization; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Islands; Laboratories; Male; Medical screening; Men; Middle Aged; Mortality; Papillomavirus Infections - blood; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Population; Population studies; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Seroepidemiology; Serology; Sex; Vaccination; Vaccines; Women; Womens health; Young Adult; Caribbean Netherlands; Netherlands; Suriname; ln; STD; METC; Vaccination; Caribbean Netherlands; CI; LU; hr; CN; IQR; IU; HPV; Seroepidemiology; Human papillomavirus; Cervical cancer screening; Ref; (a)OR; VLP; GMC; PIVA-V; BMI
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.017

•Incidence and mortality of HPV-related cancers is high in Caribbean countries.•In Caribbean Netherlands, HPV-seropositivity for multiple high-risk types was high.•Women had a nearly 3-fold higher seroprevalence than men, with antibody responses against HPV16 and 52 mostly detected.•Sex-neutral vaccination and routine cervical cancer screening should be considered. Incidence and mortality of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers differs geographically, with high rates in Caribbean countries. Seroepidemiological data provide information on lifetime cumulative HPV exposure and contributing risk factors, but has not been available yet for Caribbean Netherlands (CN), comprising the islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Therefore, a cross-sectional population-based serosurveillance study was performed in this (recently girls-only HPV-vaccinated) population in 2017. Blood samples from participants (n = 1,823, 0–90 years) were tested for seven high-risk (hr)-HPV-specific IgG-antibodies using a VLP-based multiplex-immunoassay. Risk factors for HPV-seropositivity were analysed among persons unvaccinated aged ≥ 15 years who ever had sex (n = 1,080). Among unvaccinated individuals aged ≥ 15 years, overall seropositivity was high (34%), with over half of them being seropositive for ≥ 2 hr-HPV types, and HPV16 and 52 being most prevalent (13%). Seroprevalence was substantial higher in unvaccinated women (51%) than men (18%), predominantly peaking in women aged 20–59 years, and was highest on St. Eustatius (38%). Besides age and sex, sexual risk factors were associated with HPV-seropositivity. In accordance with the Caribbean region, seroprevalence of multiple hr-HPV types was high in CN. These data corroborate the decision regarding introduction of a sex-neutral HPV-vaccination program and the relevance for considering a population-based cervical cancer screening program.