Multiple infections in cases of cervical cancer from a high‐incidence area in tropical Africa

Abstract

The presence of several infections was determined in tissue and serum samples from 34 cases and 23 controls seen in 1984-85 at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. When assessing single infections, association with cervical cancer could be shown for 5 agents, namely by Southern blot assay for human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (HPV), and by serological tests at varying levels of antibody titres, for herpes simplex virus type I and/or 2 (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus, viral capsid antigen (EBV-VCA), and Chlamydia trachomatis (CLT). Due to interaction, HSV and CMV were associated with cervical cancer only when infection by both of these agents was demonstrable. In the assessment of the simultaneous presence of these 5 infections, moderately high antibody titres were taken as the cut-off point for infection by HSV, CMV, EBV-VCA, and CLT. This showed that 3 and 4 infections at a time were seen in the majority of the cases in contrast to the controls with essentially no more than 2 such infections. A linear trend in the rise of risk for cervical cancer was noted with increasing number of infections.

Detection of Ras Gene-Mutations and HPV in Lesions of the Human Female Reproductive-Tract

“…In areas with high-incidence of cervical cancer there seems to be little difference in the prevalence of HPV 16 and HPV 18, whereas in areas with moderately-high incidence, HPV 16 is more common than HPV 18 (27). In the current study we found a higher rate of infection by HPV 18 (30.2%) compared to HPV 16 (27.9%) in the 86 cervical lesions examined.…”

Cervical cancer: the sub-Saharan African perspective

“…16,17 Many of the factors that increase both HPV acquisition and promote the oncogenic effect of the virus are also very widespread in Africa. These include: early marriage, polygamous marriages and high parity.…”

Cervical Cancer in Sub Sahara Africa

“…Single women (odds ratio, OR=2.1; 95% confidence interval, CI=1.1-3.9) and illiterate women (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.1-2.5) showed increased HPV positivity.. High prevalence of HPV in all age groups may be a distinctive feature of populations where HPV transmission continues into middle age and cervical cancer incidence is very high. Many of the factors that increase both HPV acquisition and promote the oncogenic effect of the virus are also very widespread in Africa (Schmauz et al 1989). These include: early marriage, polygamous marriages and high parity.…”