Serum antibodies to human papillomavirus (HPV) pseudovirions correlate with natural infection for 13 genital HPV types.

BACKGROUND: Serology for human papillomaviruses (HPV) types -16 and -18 is established as an important tool for studies of HPV vaccinology and epidemiology. However, as there are a large number of oncogenic genital types of HPV there is a need for development of high-throughput, validated HPV serological assays that can be used for more comprehensive seroepidemiological studies and for research on multivalent HPV vaccines. OBJECTIVES: To develop a multiplexed pseudovirion-based serological assay (PsV-Luminex) encompassing 21 HPV types and validate the method by correlating the serology with the presence of type specific HPV DNA in cervical samples. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical swabs from 3,291 unvaccinated women attending organized cervical screening in Slovenia were tested with 3 different HPV DNA detection methods and presence of HPV DNA compared to presence of serum antibodies to pseudovirions from 15 genital HPV types (HPV-6,-11,-16,-18,-31,-33,-35,-39,-45,-52,-56,-58,-59,-68,-73). RESULTS: On average 51% of the HPV DNA positive women were seropositive for the same HPV type that was detected in the cervical specimen. We found a strong correlation with presence of HPV DNA and antibodies to the same HPV type for 13/15 genital HPV types (median OR=5.7, CI 95%=2.4-12.9). HPV-52 serology failed the validation and HPV-11 serology could not be validated because only a single woman was positive for HPV-11 DNA. The correlation between serology and HPV DNA status tended to be stronger among women infected with single HPV type (median OR=10.5, CI 95%=2.4-48.4) than among women with multiple HPV infections (median OR=4.6, CI 95%=1.8-11.7). CONCLUSIONS: A multiplexed HPV PsV-Luminex assay has been developed and validated to correlate with natural HPV infection for 13 HPV types, thus enabling more comprehensive studies in HPV epidemiology and vaccine research

Initial assessment of the COVID-19 vaccination's impact on case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths in people aged 80 years and older, 15 EU/EEA countries, December 2020 to May 2021

Prioritisation of elderly people in COVID-19 vaccination campaigns aimed at reducing severe outcomes in this group. Using EU/EEA surveillance and vaccination uptake, we estimated the risk ratio of case, hospitalisation and death notifications in people 80 years and older compared with 25-59-year-olds. Highest impact was observed for full vaccination uptake 80% or higher with reductions in notification rates of cases up to 65% (IRR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.99), hospitalisations up to 78% (IRR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.13-0.37) and deaths up to 84% (IRR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.13-0.20).S

Acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, 2016

Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission of influenza viruses. The aim of our study is to determine the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, to identify factors associated with that vaccination and assess their attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases