Genotype distribution and molecular characterization of HPV in the Peruvian amazon: insights into prevalence, lineage...

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Peru, with the highest death rates reported in the Amazon region. Despite this burden, molecular data on human papillomavirus (HPV) in this area are limited. This study aimed to assess HPV genotype distribution and molecular characteristics in women undergoing cervical screening in the Peruvian Amazon. Between May and November 2024, cervical samples were collected from 503 women aged 25-55, along with an additional subset of 35 women with histologically confirmed CIN2 + lesions. HPV genotyping was performed using the Allplex™ HPV28 assay, and single infections with HPV16 or HPV52 were further analyzed by TaME-seq to determine lineage, intrahost variability, and integration. HPV prevalence was 51.7% (278/538), with high rates of multiple infections (44.2%) and low vaccination coverage (7.8%). Oncogenic HPV types were detected in 35.7% (192/538) of participants, with HPV 16 and HPV 52 being the most prevalent. Sublineage analysis revealed predominance of A1 variants, while viral integration was detected in nine cases, three associated with CIN2 + lesions. Integration sites occurred mainly in E1/E2 for HPV16 and L1/L2 for HPV52. These findings highlight the urgent need to expand vaccination and implement molecular screening strategies in the Peruvian Amazon.