Abstract
Introduction
: Heck's disease (HD) is a virus-induced proliferation, normally benign and rare disease affecting the oral mucosa of children and young adults from different regions of the world and ethnic groups.
Objective
determine the prevalence of HD and the detection of 30 different genotypes of HPV in the oral cavity of an indigenous population.
Materials and Methods
81 saliva samples were collected from indigenous people of the Yanomami ethnic group, including their family members, with a clinically history of HD. DNA was extracted and a commercial assay, which includes 28 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), was used for analysis, and RT-PCR to identify HPV-13 and HPV-32.
Results
from 81 saliva samples analysed, 33 (40.7%) clinically had HD. In the initial HPV genotyping analysis, 39 (48.2%) were positive for at least one genotype. All individuals who clinically had the lesion were positive for HPV-13 or HPV-32. The majority of the 13 families (46.2%) were positive for HPV-13, whereas HPV-32 was found in 38.5%, and only 15.4% had both genotypes. Of the other genotypes of HPV, only 10 individuals were positive, eight were positive for high-risk HPV group (HPV-16, 18, 58, 59, 69 and 82) and two were positive for low-risk HPV-40, 43.
Conclusion
Our study confirms the presence of HPV-13 and HPV-32, which are associated with Heck's disease. Additionally, there seems to be a familial segregation of these viruses.
Clinical Relevance:
Understanding the nature of this type of lesion and its characterization within families can inform preventive measures through public health policies.