DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS-RELATED ORAL VERRUCA-VULGARIS AMONGVENEZUELANS

A sensitive in situ hybridization test under low stringency conditions (LCS) with a set of digoxigenin-labeled human papillomavirus mixed pr obes (D-L HPV MP) revelaed a positive reaction in 8 of 10 cases of ora l verruca vulgaris (OVV). Ages ranged from 5 to 37 years with a mean o f 14.5 years. 50% of all cases were located intraorally on the hard pa late, followed in frequency by the commissures. These preliminary find ings provide evidence of the role of HPV in OVV from a sample of the V enezuelan population. We show that in situ hybridization conducted und er LSC is useful in HPV detection (regardless of the type) and the dig oxigenin-labeling system is a rapid, relatively easy and specific meth od. In addition, this rechnique permits the retrospective evaluation o f routinely processed material, thus widening the investigative spectr um for HPV.