Médecine moléculaire et génétique

Human Papillomavirus High-Risk Molecular Identification Among Senegalese Women

Abstract

Faye B, Sarr H, Gueye-Diouf S, Sembène M and Dièye A

Background: Human Papillomavirus and cervical cancer have become a major preoccupation for the medical and scientific international communities. Human Papillomavirus leads to precancerous lesions that can evolve in cervical cancer. Senegal is ranked 15^th in the world for the incidence of cervical cancer. According to WHO, cervical cancer represented 30% of all deaths by cancer among women, representing the most frequent death by cancer in Senegal, followed by breast cancer (15.5%). The most frequent types of HPV found in cervical cancer are 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52 and 58.

Objectives: The objective of our study is to evaluate, using molecular methods, the prevalence of HPV among Senegalese women and identify risk factors.

Materials and Methods: A total of 142 cervicals samples were collected from Senegalese women. The endocervix samples were used for identifying 14 types of HPV-HR of which (16 and 18 specified by their genotype) and (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68 not specified) using Abbott m2000sp/m2000rt RealTime High Risk HPV.

Results: The prevalence of HPV-HR was 12.7%. The 12 types of not specified HPV-HR showed a prevalence of 10.6%. Types 16 and 18 were identified in a respective proportion of 1.4% and 0.7%, no co-infection was identified. The risk of developing HPV-HR infection is independently associated (P ˃ 0.05) with the aspect of the cervix, age, ethnics groups, contraception, and the age first sexual intercourse. However, HPV-HR infection prevalence is significantly higher (P˂0.05) in women that are single/widowed/divorced (41.7%), who went through multiples miscarriage (14.3%), with multiples sexual partner (16.4%), active smoking and alcohol consumption (40%).

Conclusion: These results highlight the need for a new preventive vaccine against all HPV-HR. The value of monitoring risk factors for impactful public health address is critical for the screening of HPV-HR in sub-Saharan women.