Genital warts and mucosal papillomavirus disease

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an ancient stable DNA virus, which has evolved over millennia and causes a variety of niche-specific cutaneous and mucosal infections and diseases, including squamous carcinoma and its precursor lesions. There are numerous HPVs and these are widely distributed in the human population. Mucosal infection by HPV is very frequent, is often sexually transmitted, and is often subclinical. Prophylactic vaccines against HPV have recently been developed, and population-based vaccination programmes have already been shown to result in significant reductions in HPV disease.