Detection of high-risk human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 but not 33 and 52 in external genital warts from Iranian females.

Background: External genital warts (EGW) are relatively common sexually transmitted diseases. In the majority of cases, low-risk human papilomaviruses (HPV), such as HPV-6 and HPV-11, are responsible but, high-risk types may also be detected and this has a bearing on vaccines for cervical cancer prevention. In this study the incidence of the high-risk HPV types 16, 18, 33 and 52 in EGWs of females from the southwest of Iran was assessed.