HIV‐1 seroconversion promotes rapid changes in cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and HPV‐16 antibodies in female sex workers

The extent to which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV‐1) infection impacts on the ability to mount an effective immune response to HPV is unknown, but is relevant in planning HPV vaccine strategies for HIV‐1 infected individuals. This longitudinal study investigated changes shortly after HIV‐1 seroconversion on cervical HPV types and HPV‐16 antibody responses in serum and at the cervix of female sex workers. Typing of HPV DNA from cervical cells was done prior to HIV‐1 seroconversion and within 1 year and greater than 2 years after HIV‐1 seroconversion. Antibody determinations on serum and cervico‐vaginal rinse samples were by HPV‐16 virus‐like particle‐based, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Of 104 women tested, 40 (38.4%) became HIV‐1 seropositive (HIV‐positive) during the course of the study. Shortly after HIV‐1 seroconversion a significant increase in multiple (>1) HPV infection (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.3–11.9) was observed compared with HIV‐1 seronegative (HIV‐negative) women and certain changes in HPV type infection. HIV‐1 seroconversion resulted in a reduced prevalence of serum HPV‐16 IgA and cervico‐vaginal IgA and IgG but an increased prevalence of serum HPV‐16 IgG. All HIV‐positive women had been exposed to HPV‐16 as all displayed serum HPV‐16 IgG. Serum HPV‐16 responses were maintained at a high magnitude in the presence of HPV‐16 infection irrespective of HIV infection, but decreased in the absence of HPV‐16 infection. In conclusion, HIV‐1 seroconversion in sex workers rapidly increased cervical HPV infection and caused a reduced ability to produce cervical HPV‐16 antibodies but a continued ability to generate serum IgG antibodies. J. Med. Virol. 81:203–210, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.