Shifting HPV Infection Patterns from Single to Multiple Genotypes: Current status in Iran

Background: Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotypes is considered for progression of genital infection to invasive cervical cancer. Frequency and distribution of HPV in each community has its own dominant types as specific pattern which may be comparable in some types with other areas. As a result, HPV 16 and 18 is usually reported as one of the most prevalent genotypes in most countries. Hence, it is necessary to ensure of changing infection patterns in HrHPV dominant types for cancer screening, preventing programs and care HPV. This survey aims to find out the status of HPV in our community and possible rising incidence of multiple genotypes.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 1387 archival cervical scraping and lesion specimens of women who attended referral clinical laboratories in Tehran for genital disorders. HPV genotyping was performed using approved HPV commercial diagnostic technologies with either INNO-LiPA HPV or Geno Array Test kits.Results: The high HPV prevalence was observed in 30 to 39 years of age groups. Single, multiple and untypeable HPV genotypes were detected in 398 (70.69%), 160 (28.42%) and 5 (0.89%) cases, respectively. Thirty-two HPV genotypes were identified with different prevalence. The frequency of women infected with low, high risk, untypeable and unclassified genotypes were 28.35 %, 62.36%, 0.6 % and 0.97%, respectively. In addition, analysis of results revealed that HPV 6 (LR), 16 (HR), 53 (pHR), 11 (LR), 31(HR) were detected in more than 50 percent of all HPV positive cases (52.35%). HPV 53 had unexpectedly high frequency rate (7.72 %). Conclusion: This survey revealed that HPV 53 and other ones such as HPV 52, 58, 66 are increasing in our community moreover rising the rate of multiple HPV genotypes. Multiple infections can be an important subject especially for health policy making particularly in genital disorders.

Keywords:

HPV , Genital disorder , Genotypes , Multiple genotypes