High-risk human papilloma virus and cervical abnormalities in HIV-infected women with normal cervical cytology

Vaginal microbiome community state types and high-risk human papillomaviruses in cervical precancer and cancer in North-central Nigeria

BACKGROUND

High risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) have a causal role in cervical oncogenesis, and HIV-mediated immune suppression allows HR-HPV to persist. We studied whether vaginal microbiome community state types (CSTs) are associated with high-grade precancer and/or invasive cervical cancer (HSIL/ICC).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of adult women with cervical cancer screening (CCS) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Jos, Nigeria, between January 2020 and February 2022. Cervical swabs underwent HPV genotyping (Anyplex™ II HPV28). Cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) sample was collected for 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We used multivariable logistic regression modelling to assess associations between CSTs and other factors associated with HSIL/ICC.

RESULTS

We enrolled 155 eligible participants, 151 with microbiome data for this analysis. Women were median age 52 (IQR:43-58), 47.7% HIV positive, and 58.1% with HSIL/ICC. Of the 138 with HPV data, 40.6% were negative for HPV, 10.1% had low-risk HPV, 26.8% had single HR-HPV, and 22.5% had multiple HR-HPV types. The overall prevalence of any HR-HPV type (single and multiple) was 49.3%, with a higher proportion in women with HSIL/ICC (NILM 31.6%, LSIL 46.5%, HSIL 40.8%, and 81.5% ICC; p = 0.007). Women with HIV were more likely to have HSIL/ICC (70.3% vs. 29.7% among women without HIV). In crude and multivariable analysis CST was not associated with cervical pathology (CST-III aOR = 1.13, CST-IV aOR = 1.31). However, in the presence of HR-HPV CST-III (aOR = 6.7) and CST-IV (aOR = 3.6) showed positive association with HSIL/ICC.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal microbiome CSTs were not significantly associated with HSIL/ICC. Our findings suggest however, that CST could be helpful in identifying women with HSIL/ICC and particularly those with HR-HPV. Characterization of CSTs using point-of-care molecular testing in women with HR-HPV should be studied as an approach to improve early detection and cervical cancer prevention. Future longitudinal research will improve our understanding of the temporal effect of non-optimal CST, HR-HPV, and other factors in cervical cancer development, prevention, and control.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotypes in Cervicovaginal Secretions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Indian Women and Correlation With Clinico-Virological Parameters

Introduction and Background: Both human papillomavirus (HPV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are sexually transmitted. High-risk (HR) HPV types are a causal factor in cervical cancer. Persistent HPV infection in this subset of immunocompromised women results in faster disease progression. The study determined the prevalence of HPV genotypes in cervicovaginal secretions of HIV seropositive women and the correlation with CD4 counts and cytology.

Method: One hundred, non-pregnant, HIV-positive women of 18 years of age and above were enrolled in this cross-sectional study following approval by the institutional ethical committee. A written consent, questionnaire, followed by sample collection including a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear for cytology was undertaken. Cervicovaginal secretion samples were collected in the Digene^® specimen transport medium (STM) (Qiagen Gaithersburg Inc., MD, USA). HPV genotyping was carried out with PCR amplification of a 65-base pair (bp) fragment in the L1 region of the HPV genome using the short PCR fragment (SPF10) primers followed by reverse hybridization by line probe assay (LPA) using the INNOLiPA HPV Genotyping Extra kit (Fujirebio, Belgium). Quantitation of HPV-16 and−18 viral loads (VLs) was done by real-time PCR. Results of Pap smear cytology were correlated with CD4 counts and HPV-16 and−18 VLs.

Results: Mean age of the subjects was 34.9 years ± 7.2 years (median 33.0 years, range 24–60 years). HPV was detected in 62 of 93 (66.6%) samples. Twenty (32.25%) of these 62 samples harbored a single HPV genotype. Multiple genotypes (more than two) were detected in 38 (61.3%) samples. HPV-16 was the commonest genotype detected in 26 (27.9%) of all samples and 41.9% of HPV positive samples. Pap smear cytology was reported for 93 women included in the study. Women who had normal cytology were reported as negative for intraepithelial malignancy or lesion (NILM; n = 62; 71.36%), two women had a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL; n = 11), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS; n = 12). Those smears with inadequate material were reported as scant (n = 6). The median CD4 count was 363/cu.mm (range 39–787) in HPV-positive women compared to 423/cu.mm (range 141–996) in those HPV-negative women. Quantitation of HPV-16 and−18 VL was done in duplicate for samples positive by PCR reverse hybridization (INNOLiPA). Of these 20 samples (65%), 12 samples were positive by real-time PCR. The normalized HPV-16 VL ranged between 18 and 240,000 copies/cell. The normalized HPV-18 VL in cervical samples ranged between ~24 and 60,000 copies/cell.

Conclusion: HIV-positive women may be infected with multiple genotypes other than HPV-16 and−18. This may have implications on the vaccines available currently which target few specific genotypes only. Studies are required to determine the predictive role of HR HPV genotypes, in significant copy numbers especially in HIV seropositive women. It would be clinically relevant if the HPV VLs, cervical cytology, and CD4 counts are considered into cervical cancer screening programs for triage and follow-up of these women.

Prevalence and Type Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Recovered from the Uterine Cervix of Nigerian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

Infection with an oncogenic type of human papillomavirus is a prerequisite for the development of precancerous cervical lesions and its subsequent progression to cervical cancer. With an alarming increase in the detection of other suspicious papillomavirus genotypes in both healthy and women with cervical lesions, there is a need for comprehensive data on cervical papillomavirus infection to address cervical cancer and other associated disease burden, especially in Sub-Sarahan Africa, where the bulk of the problem exists. The present study was conducted to develop comprehensive data on the prevalence and circulating genotypes of human papillomavirus in various risk categories in Nigeria.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed publications on cervical papillomavirus infection were performed. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies published in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from inception to July 31, 2019. The random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. We identified 327 potential studies and pooled data from 18, involving 5697 women aged 15-86 years.

Results:

The overall pooled prevalence of cervical papillomavirus infection was 42% (95%CI: 30-54%) in the general population and 37% (95%CI: 25-50%) among women living with HIV/AIDs, with the predominance of genotypes 16, 18, 31, 35, 52, 58 and 45. The highest prevalence was observed in teenagers and young adults and the second peak in women 50 years and above.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus infection is cumulatively high in Nigeria and HIV is a strong co-factor. We, therefore, strongly recommend the co-screening of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer and integration of the intervention strategy into the existing HIV-care guideline in Nigeria.

Human Papillomavirus

Individuals with inherited immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disorders, organ or bone marrow transplantation, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of infection with both low-risk and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Chronic immunosuppression provides an environment for persistent HPV infection which carries a higher risk of malignant transformation. Screening guidelines have been developed or advocated for processes that have detectable premalignant lesions, such as anal cancer or cervical cancer. For other anatomic locations, such as cutaneous, penile, and oropharyngeal, a biopsy of suspicious lesions is necessary for diagnosis. HPV cannot be cultured from clinical specimens in the laboratory, and diagnosis relies on cytologic, histologic, or molecular methods.

Multiple HPV infections in female sex workers in Western Kenya: implications for prophylactic vaccines within this sub population

Background

Whilst the imputed role of High Risk (HR) HPV infection in the development of cervical lesions and cancer has been established, the high number of HPV genotypes that Female Sex workers (FSW) harbour warrants that the synergistic effects of potential HR (pHR) and HR HPV genotypes be elucidated to assess the potential impact of prophylactic vaccines. This population in Kenya also harbours a number of other vaginal infections and STIs, including bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and candida spp.

The aims of this cross-sectional analysis in Kenya are to explore the epidemiology of abnormal cytology and the pairing of pHR/HPV genotypes in HIV-negative and HIV-infected FSW.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design of 616 FSW from Western Kenya aged between 18 and 61 years during 2009–2015 using a peer recruitment sampling strategy.

Results

Of the 599 FSW who underwent cytological examination, 87 had abnormal cytology (14.5%; 95% CI: 12.0–17.6%). A combined prevalence of HPV16 and 18 (29.6%; 95% CI: 22.2–37.8%) was observed in abnormal cytology. HPV 53 and 51 were the most observed pairing in FSW with abnormal cytology. Significant adjusted associations were found between abnormal cytology and TV (aOR: 30; 95% CI: 14.1–62.9), multiple HR HPV (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.9–7.3), HPV 51 (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.6–8.6) and HPV 52 (aOR 6.1; 95% CI: 2.8–13.3).

Conclusion

HPV 51 and 52 were independently associated with abnormal cervical cytology in both HIV negative/positive FSW. The strong association between TV and cervical dysplasia and the high percentage of FSW harbouring more than one STI underscore the need for enhanced STI management within the framework of cervical cancer prevention.

High-risk human papillomavirus and cervical lesions among women living with HIV/AIDS in Brazilian Amazon, Brazil

Objective

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection infection and cervical lesions and its associated factors among HIV infected women attending an AIDS clinic in Amazonas state, Brazil.

Methods

Cross-sectional study. Women attending an AIDS clinic in the city of Manaus between March and December 2011 for gynecological examination were invited to participate. Enrolled patients answered a standardized interview including demographical, behavioral, and clinical data. Additionally, patients underwent a gynecological evaluation with collection of cervical samples for cytological analysis and high-risk human papillomavirus infection hybrid capture. A blood sample was also obtained to determine CD4 and viral load levels.

Results

A total of 310 (82.9%) women participated in the study. High-risk human papillomavirus infection was detected in 191 (61.6%) cases; 24 (13.5%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and 4 (2.2%) high-grade SIL. No invasive cervical cancer was diagnosed. Median age was 32 (interquartile range (IQR): 27–38) years and median of education was 8.5 (IQR 4–11) years of schooling and 56.1% had a monthly income up to US$180. In multivariate analysis, being less than 30 years old [OR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.2–2.4, p = 0.005)], high-grade SIL [OR = 6.5 (95% CI: 1.6–23.0, p = 0.009)], and CD4 counts <200 cells/mm³ [OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.2–2.0, p < 0.001)] were associated with high risk human papillomavirus infection infection.

Conclusions

In the present study high-risk human papillomavirus infection was frequent and it was associated to high-SIL. These results show the importance of gynecologic examinations in routine care and follow-up required by those who present with cervical lesions.