Evaluation of Human Papillomavirus Genotype Distribution in Cervical Samples

Prevalence of Candida albicans in High-Risk Human Papillomavirus-Positive Women: A Study in Diyarbakır Province, Turkey

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health concern due to its association with the development of cervical cancer. Although inflammation caused by Candida spp. has been shown to facilitate oncogenesis, the interactions between HPV and Candida spp. remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of HR-HPV infection HR-HPV-positiveCandida albicans in HR-HPV-positive individuals in Diyarbakır province in Turkey. Cervical samples were taken from 350 participants aged 20-69 years who applied to Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic. For detection of HPV presence and HR-HPV genotyping, PCR/direct cycle sequencing was used. E6/E7 mRNA expression of HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, and -45 was determined by type-specific real-time NASBA assay (NucliSENS EasyQ(®)HPV v1.1). The presence of Candida albicans in cervical specimens of HR-HPV-positive women was investigated by RAPD-PCR and culture methods. Results. Of the 350 women who participated in the study, 24% were HPV positive and 10.5% were found to be HR-HPV positive. HR-HPV positivity was most frequently detected in the age range of 40-49 years. Among HR-HPV-positive women, C. albicans was found in 59.4%. Conclusion. The most frequent HR-HPV genotype was HPV16, followed by HPV31. Of women who tested positive for HR-HPV, C. albicans was discovered in 59.4%. C. albicans infection may occur when the immune system is weakened or the balance of the vaginal flora is disturbed, increasing tissue damage in the vaginal area and the risk of carcinogenesis of HR-HPV. Therefore, knowing the presence of Candida infection in HR-HPV-positive women is essential to plan the treatment and prevent the risk of secondary disease.

Human Papillomavirus Prevalence and Associated Factors in Indigenous Women in Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of death from malignancy in women in Ecuador. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent of CC. Although several studies have been conducted on HPV detection in Ecuador, there are limited data on indigenous women. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the prevalence of HPV and associated factors in women from the indigenous communities of Quilloac, Saraguro and Sevilla Don Bosco. The study included 396 sexually active women belonging to the aforementioned ethnicities. A validated questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data, and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests were used to detect HPV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These communities are located in the southern region of Ecuador and face geographical and cultural barriers to accessing health services. The results showed that 28.35% of women tested positive for both types of HPV, 23.48% for high-risk (HR) HPV, and 10.35% for low-risk (LR) HPV. Statistically significant associations were found between HR HPV and having more than three sexual partners (OR 1.99, CI 1.03-3.85) and Chlamydia trachomatis infection (OR 2.54, CI 1.08-5.99). This study suggests that HPV infection and other sexually transmitted pathogens are common among indigenous women, highlighting the need for control measures and timely diagnosis in this population.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV) Prevalence and Genotype Distribution among Turkish Women

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the rates of distribution of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes according to cervical smear samples and biopsy results in a large sample of Turkish women.

Methods

The study was conducted with 4,503 healthy volunteer women aged 19-65 years. Samples of cervical smears were collected during the examination and liquid-based cytology was used for the Pap tests. The Bethesda system was used for reporting the cytology. High-risk HPV genotypes including HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68 were investigated in samples. The study cohort was grouped according to age in decades, with comparisons made according to these age groups, Bethesda class, and cervix biopsy results.

Results

Among all cases, 903 (20.1%) participants were positive for 1074 hrHPV-DNA genotypes. HPV-DNA positive cases were most common in the 30-39 age group (28.0%), followed by women under the age of 30 (38.5%). HPV genotypes were determined as, in order of frequency: Other hrHPV (n = 590, 65.3%), HPV16 (n = 127, 14.1%), Other HPV + HPV16 (n = 109, 12.1%), HPV 18 (n = 33, 3.6%), and Other HPV + HPV 18 (n = 32, 3.5%). Cervical smears were reported as ASCUS in 304 (6.8%) samples and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 12 (0.3%) of the samples. Biopsy demonstrated the presence of HSIL in 110 (12.5%) participants, with 644 (73.3%) negative cases.

Conclusion

This showed an increasing incidence of Other HPVs besides the known importance of HPV 16 and 18 genotypes as risk factors for cervical cancer.

Burden and Associated Genotype Patterns of High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Cervical Cytology Abnormalities among Women in Central India

Background

The epidemiology of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the pattern of HPV genotype distribution are much-needed parameters to assess the risk of cervical cancer among females. However, due to less availability of data on HPV burden and its genotypes from various geographical regions in India makes cervical cancer screening modalities and vaccination strategies difficult to implement.

Objective

The present study was conducted to identify the various genotypes particularly high-risk HPV types in premalignant or malignant cervical lesions.

Methods

The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study wherein 295 symptomatic women were screened by Pap smear and multiplex real-time PCR was performed for HPV genotypes identification in women with abnormal cervical cytology.

Results

Out of 295 women, 237 (80.3%), 45 (15.3%), and 13 (4.4%) women had normal Pap smear, squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous cytology, respectively. Among these 58 women having abnormal cervical cytology, HPV was detected in 48 (81.0%) participants. Most common HPV genotypes in our study were HPV 16 (n = 29; 60.4%) followed by mixed infections; i.e., more than one type of HPV was detected (n = 10, 20.8%). HPV 18 was detected only in 6.25%, whereas other high-risk HPV genotypes were found to be 12.5%.

Conclusion

HPV positivity was >80% in women having abnormal Pap smear. The prevalence of HPV 18 was found to be much less in Central India, compared to other parts of country. HPV 16 was the most common genotype followed by mixed HPV genotype infections. It is evident from our study that symptomatic women even if having normal Pap smear should be screened for HPV and followed up with periodic Pap smears for detecting any change in cervical cytology, thus preventing cervical cancer in women.