BackgroundData on Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) infection are scarce in Morocco. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of HPV and cervical cytology abnormalities in women from the Souss area, Morocco.MethodsTwo hundred and thirty two women who attended the Hassan II hospital (Agadir, Morocco) were recruited in this study. Socio-economic data, sexual activity, reproductive life, history of Pap smear, smoking and HIV status were recorded. Cervical samples were taken using an Ayre spatula. Cytology was reported using the Bethesda system. HPVs were first detected by MY09/11 consensus PCR and then genotyped with INNO-LiPA® assay. Data were analyzed using the logistic regression model.ResultsThe median age of women was 42 years (18–76 years). HIV prevalence was 36.2 %. Any HPV type prevalence was 23.7 % in the study population, lower in HIV-negative women (13.3 %) than in HIV-positive women (39.3 %). HPV16 was the most prevalent type (6.5 %), followed by HPV53 and HPV74 (3.4 % each). Most women had normal cervical smears (82 %), the remaining were diagnosed with LGSIL (13 %) and HGSIL (5 %). HPV was detected in 17.4 % of normal smears, 43.4 % of LGSIL and 75 % of HGSIL. HIV status was the most powerful predictor of high risk (hr) and probable hr (phr) HPV infection (odds ratio 4.16, 95 % confidence interval 1.87–9.24, p = 0.0005) followed by abnormal cytology (OR 3.98, 95 % CI 1.39–11.40, p = 0.01), independently of socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors.ConclusionsIn a Moroccan hospital based-population of the Souss area, HPV infections are frequently detected. In addition, high prevalence of hr and phrHPVs and precancerous lesions among HIV-positive women is likely associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. This highlights the need for HPV and cervical cancer prevention campaigns in Morocco.

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Background Elucidation of specific and recurrent/founder pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA (BRCA1 and BRCA2) genes can have an impact on breast cancer (BC) and/or ovarian cancer (OC) risk, making genetic testing affordable and accessible. Methods To establish the knowledge about BRCA PVs and to determine the prevalence of the specific and recurrent/founder variants in BRCA genes in BC and/or OC women in North Africa, a systematic review was conducted in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Results Search of the databases yielded 25 relevant references, including eleven studies in Morocco, five in Algeria, and nine in Tunisia. Overall, 15 studies investigated both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, four studies examined the entire coding region of the BRCA1 gene, and six studies in which the analysis was limited to a few BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 exons. Overall, 76 PVs (44 in BRCA1 and 32 in BRCA2) were identified in 196 BC and/or OC patients (129 BRCA1 and 67 BRCA2 carriers). Eighteen of the 76 (23.7%) PVs [10/44 (22.7%) in BRCA1 and 8/32 (25%) in BRCA2] were reported for the first time and considered to be novel PVs. Among those identified as unlikely to be of North African origin, the BRCA1 c.68_69del and BRCA1 c.5266dupC Jewish founder alleles and PVs that have been reported as recurrent/founder variants in European populations (ex: BRCA1 c.181T > G, BRCA1 c1016dupA). The most well characterized PVs are four in BRCA1 gene [c.211dupA (14.7%), c.798_799detTT (14%), c.5266dup (8.5%), c.5309G > T (7.8%), c.3279delC (4.7%)] and one in BRCA2 [c.1310_1313detAAGA (38.9%)]. The c.211dupA and c.5309G > T PVs were identified as specific founder variants in Tunisia and Morocco, accounting for 35.2% (19/54) and 20.4% (10/49) of total established BRCA1 PVs, respectively. c.798_799delTT variant was identified in 14% (18/129) of all BRCA1 North African carriers, suggesting a founder allele. A broad spectrum of recurrent variants including BRCA1 3279delC, BRCA1 c.5266dup and BRCA2 c.1310_1313detAAGA was detected in 42 patients. BRCA1 founder variants explain around 36.4% (47/129) of BC and outnumber BRCA2 founder variants by a ratio of ≈ 3:1. Conclusion Testing BC and/or OC patients for the panel of specific and recurrent/founder PVs might be the most cost-effective molecular diagnosis strategy.

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Le cancer du col est une maladie maligne liée à l'infection par le papillomavirus humain (HPV) et qui se développe sur plusieurs années. L'objectif du dépistage est de détecter très précocement les lésions à forte probabilité d'évoluer en cancer. Les tests de biologie moléculaire constituent le « gold standard » pour le diagnostic des infections à HPV. L'étude de la charge virale, de l'intégration du génome et des transcrits E6/E7 sont des biomarqueurs prometteurs pour l'étude de la progression des lésions cervicales. Cette revue de littérature relate les spécificités des différentes techniques moléculaires et des principaux kits de diagnostic des infections à HPV responsables du cancer du col. Mots clés Papillomavirus humain · Détection · Génotypage · Cancer du colAbstract Cervical cancer (CC) develops over a long period, through precursor lesions that may regress spontaneously without treatment. The challenge of CC cytological screening is to detect the lesions that have a high risk of progression. Consequently, various biomarkers associated with the risk of progression of this cancer have been investigated, and most are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Molecular techniques are most commonly used for HPV testing, and are the gold standard for diagnosing this viral infection. HPV-DNA viral load quantification and integration, and E6/E7 expression are promising biomarkers that can predict the progression of lesions to CC. To date, there is no one ideal biomarker; however, overall, the combination of biomarkers can contribute to early determination of CC. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge about detection methods for HPV and related biomarkers.