Detection of human papillomavirus-related oral verruca vulgaris among Venezuelans.

A sensitive in situ hybridization test under low stringency conditions (LCS) with a set of digoxigenin-labeled human papillomavirus mixed probes (D-L HPV MP) revealed a positive reaction in 8 of 10 cases of oral verruca vulgaris (OVV). Ages ranged from 5 to 37 years with a mean of 14.5 years. 50% of all cases were located intraorally on the hard palate, followed in frequency by the commissures. These preliminary findings provide evidence of the role of HPV in OVV from a sample of the Venezuelan population. We show that in situ hybridization conducted under LSC is useful in HPV detection (regardless of the type) and the digoxigenin-labeling system is a rapid, relatively easy and specific method. In addition, this technique permits the retrospective evaluation of routinely processed material, thus widening the investigative spectrum for HPV.