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Which viruses cause genital warts?
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sexually transmitted disease
Scanning electron micrograph of the spirochete Treponema pallidum attached to testicular cell membranes.
Genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminata, are caused by specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
While there are more than 100 distinct types of HPV, genital warts with low malignant potential are primarily associated with HPV-6 and HPV-11. These viruses are transmitted through sexual intercourse and are distinct from the high-risk HPV strains (such as HPV-16 and HPV-18) that are more strongly linked to the development of cervical cancer and other malignancies.12