Human Papillomavirus infection in asymptomatic population

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection.
• Certain HPV types are associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.
• Screening for HPV is crucial for early detection and prevention of HPV-related diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of HPV infections in women with normal cervical cytology.
• To investigate HPV infection rates in males attending routine check-ups.
• To identify high-risk HPV strains circulating in the Mumbai population.

Main Methods:

• Cervical swab samples from 470 women with normal Pap smears were analyzed for HPV DNA.
• HPV detection and typing were performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Southern blotting, and sequencing.
• Urine samples from 104 males were screened for the presence of HPV.

Main Results:

• HPV was detected in 8.1% of women, with HPV 16 and 18 (high-risk types) being prevalent.
• A significant proportion of infected women had mixed HPV infections or other HPV types.
• HPV infection was found in 11.5% of males, with a notable percentage in those under 30 years old.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the presence of high-risk HPV infections in women despite normal cervical cytology results.
• This research provides the first report on HPV infection in males from Western India utilizing urine specimens.
• Findings highlight the importance of HPV screening in both asymptomatic women and men for disease prevention.