Seroepidemiology of Human Papillomavirus Type 11 in the United States: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1991–1994

In Brief Objectives: The national seroprevalence of the nononcogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type 11, one of the types targeted by the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, has not been evaluated in the United States. The objectives of this study were to estimate the national seroprevalence and evaluate predictors of HPV-11 seropositivity. Study Design: We tested serum samples for HPV-11 antibodies and analyzed questionnaire data from the second phase of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, 1991–1994. Seroprevalence estimates were weighted to represent the US population. Results: Overall seroprevalence of HPV-11 infection was 4.7%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among females (5.7%) than among males (3.6%). Independent predictors of HPV-11 seropositivity included sex, race/ethnicity, lifetime number of sex partners, education, and HPV-16 seropositivity. Conclusion: This study represents the most comprehensive picture of HPV-11 infection in the United States to date, and provides baseline data on the prevalence of HPV-11 before availability of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine. This population-based study found a 4.7% seroprevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 11 among 6- to 59-year-old males and females in the United States. HPV-11 causes genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and is one of the 4 types for which a preventive vaccine is available.