Epidemiological patterns of cervical human papillomavirus infection among women presenting for cervical cancer screening in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundSub-Saharan countries including Nigeria have the highest burden of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the world. Most studies on HPV surveillance in Nigeria were done in the southern part of the country. Geographical and socio-cultural diversity of Nigeria makes these data unlikely to be universally representative for the entire country. Northern Nigeria especially the North-East carries a higher prevalence of cervical cancer and many of its risk factors. The region may be harbouring a higher prevalence of HPV infection with a possibility of different genotypic distribution. This study was carried out to determine the burden and confirm the predominant HPV genotypes among women presenting for cervical cancer screening at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), North-eastern, Nigeria.MethodsThe study was an observational hospital based cross sectional study among women who presented for cervical cancer screening in FTHG. A total of 209 consenting women were tested for cervical HPV infection using PCR. DNA sequencing was carried out on positive samples to determine the prevalent HPV genotypes.ResultsThe prevalence of cervical HPV infection among the participants with mean age of 39.6 ± 10.4 years was 48.1 %. The five most predominant genotypes were 18, 16, 33, 31 and 35, with prevalence of 44.7 %, 13.2 %, 7.9 %, 5.3 % and 5.3 % respectively. Other genotypes observed were 38, 45, 56, 58, 82 and KC5. Multiple HPV infections were detected among 7.9 % of participants. Risk factors such as level of education (X2 = 15.897; p = 0.007), age at sexual debut (X2 = 6.916; p = 0.009), parity (X2 = 23.767; p = 0.000), number of life time sexual partners (X2 = 7.805; p = 0.005), age at first pregnancy (X2 = 10.554; p = 0.005) and history of other malignancies (X2 = 7.325; p = 0.007) were found to have a statistically significant association with HPV infection.ConclusionThis study identified a high burden of HPV infection in Northern Nigeria while also confirming HPV 18 and 16 as the most predominant genotypes. It further justifies the potential benefit of the currently available HPV vaccines in the area. A larger and community based study is however recommended for better representation of the area.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13027-015-0035-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Seroepidemiological Evaluation of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Types Among Married and Unmarried Iranian Women in Tehran, Iran

“…The results of the present study for the frequency of HPV types 16 and 18 are consistent with previous reports from other regions in Iran and worldwide, which indicate a high proportion of these HPV genotypes in the general population compared to other high-risk HPV types (18)(19)(20)(21). However, compared to studies applying cytological or DNA-based methods for identification of HPVs among healthy women, the rates of HPV types 16 and 18 in the present study were relatively high.…”

The use of HPV-DNA testing combined with Pap smear in detection of pre-invasive disease of the cervix

“…5,6 High quality cervical screening can contribute to a reduction in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. 19 The results of this study suggests that HPV 16, 18 DNA test is less sensitive than Pap smear in early detection of pre-invasive disease of the cervix, and the cytology is primary to HPV DNA as a screening method.…”

“…sexual partners and early sexual activity, high Parity, long term use of contraceptives, smoking, immunosuppression and low socioeconomic status. 5,6 Among all known types of cancer, cervical cancer has some of the best chance for prevention and cure when diagnosed early, in the preinvasive stage. 7 Screening for cervical cancer has been implemented in many countries, starting in the 1960s and led to reduction in cervical cancer burden.…”

HPV infection of the cervix uteri: Prospects for combination treatment

“…Доказано, что самой распространенной патологией, ведущей к развитию пред-раковых заболеваний, является папилломавирусная ин-фекция (ПВИ), передающаяся половым путем [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].Невиданное доселе обновление технологического обеспечения, произошедшее на рубеже XX-XXI веков, совершенствование методов диагностики вирусных забо-леваний способствовали не только выявлению истинной частоты инфицированности вирусом папилломы челове-ка (ВПЧ), но и изучению связи между инфицированно-стью ВПЧ и диспластическими процессами шейки матки [8][9][10][11][12]. Доказано, что репликация ВПЧ на начальном эта-пе приводит к возникновению воспалительной реакции в шейке матки, а в последующем -к возникновению в тол-ще эпителиального слоя атипичных клеток с различной степенью нарушения их дифференцировки, к изменени-ям слоистости эпителиальных клеток (без участия в пато-логическом процессе стромальных структур).…”

“…Доказано, что самой распространенной патологией, ведущей к развитию пред-раковых заболеваний, является папилломавирусная ин-фекция (ПВИ), передающаяся половым путем [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”