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Q: HPV Infections
asked by: DoctorQuestion on June 9th, 2007
About HPV questions:
1) Apart from sexual transmission, is there a scientific proof of other transmissions like that of being infected in the dentist's? Up to the moment, I have heard of more than 5 people being infected while going to the dentist's. Is this possible?
2) Can this disease be infected while eating out? For example, eating in a restaurant and use the plates of the restaurants?
3) How can we test the infection of the HPV? There are methods of testing like pap smears, but this is just for women. And there are other methods such as testing the DNA. Which is the best method? and what are the differences?
4) Is there any method of testing for men? I have read that there is no method to test men. But what if men got this infection? Is there a way to know the index for men and to know the type of HPV?
5) Can the viruses be tested from the urine and saliva? Is this possible? And are the results feasible?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on June 18th, 2007
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Answer A2937
The human papiloma virus attacks the epithelial cells of the skin, mouth, vagina, cervix and anus causing warts. Necessary to the transmission of an HPV-infection is direct contact between the lesion (wart) and healthy skin or mucosa. That direct contact can happen during sexual intercourse or any other type of direct contact (touch). During a dentist’s intervention there is no direct contact because a dentist always wears gloves. An HPV-infection can’t be transmitted by food. Indirect transmission by contaminated things (plates) is less possible. An HPV-infection can be proven only by isolating the virus or testing its DNA. A PAP-test can reveal some cell changes that may indicate an HPV-infection but the test doesn't prove its existence. Rather, a PCR test is used for identifying HPV and the serotype of the virus. A smear taken directly from the wart and then tested with PSR-technique is used for both men and women. HPV can’t be isolated in urine or saliva because is not present in those excretions.




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