Infectious Diseases Now

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution by cytological status and associated risk factors in the general population of Congolese women living in urban and rural areas: Implications for cervical cancer prevention

Cervical cancer related to high risk-human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the second female cancer in the Republic of Congo (Congo). We herein evaluated the molecular epidemiology of cervical HPV infection and associated risk factors in Congolese women living in urban (Brazzaville) and rural (Plateaux department) settings. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect demographic and behavioral data among Congolese women, and to obtain endocervical swab samples for HPV DNA molecular detection (Anyplex II HPV28, Seegene, Seoul, South Korea). A total of 284 women (mean age: 37.8 years; HIV-1-positivity: 18.6%) were included. The prevalence of HPV DNA cervical shedding was 64.4% [HR-HPV: 80.9%, mainly HPV-16 (15.8%), and HPV-35 and HPV-52 (15.3%); multiple HPV infections: 60.6%; 9-valent HPV Gardasil-9® vaccine genotypes: 42.6%]. 91.6% and 100% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (LSIL) and cervical cancer, respectively, showed HR-HPV. HR-HPV prevalence was higher among students (aOR: 7.9) and HIV-infected women (aOR: 3.1) in Brazzaville, and among women aged between 21-30 years (aOR: 7.2) and HIV-infected women (aOR: 5.1) in the Plateaux department. Cervical HR-HPV infection is particularly frequent in young or HIV-infected Congolese women. Prophylactic HPV vaccination combined with primary molecular screening of HR-HPV infection in this country should be extended.

HLA Class II alleles and association with HPV Infection prevalence in high-risk HPV-positive Han women in southern China

To investigate the prevalence of different human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes and their association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles in China. A total of 16,168 married Chinese women in Maoming City of Guangdong province were tested for high-risk HPV infection. High-resolution typing of HLA-DRB1/DQB1 alleles was also performed on samples found to be infected with HPV. All in all, HPV-52, -58, -16, -18, and -53 were the five most common subtypes of HPV, with an incidence of high-risk HPV infection of 7.14%. Among women at high-risk of HPV infection, -DRB1*0403 (3.12% vs. 1.67%, odds ratio [OR] 1.894), -DQB1*0602 (3.74% vs. 1.82%, OR 2.094), and -DQB1*0609 (2.02% vs. 0.91%, OR 2.249) frequencies were higher than in controls. In contrast, -DQB1*0402 (0.31% vs. 1.29%, OR 0.239) in women with high-risk HPV infection exhibited a significantly decreased frequency compared to the controls. Our results strongly support previous findings from other populations that -DRB1*0403 and -DQB1*0602 may be risk factors for HPV infection and subsequent development of cervical cancer. Moreover, unlike the European population, -DQB1*0402 may protect rather than render Maoming women susceptible to HPV infection.