engleski

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) screening and HPV genotyping in clinical specimens from north-eastern Croatia

The objectives of this study were to obtain the prevalence of HPV infections, its correlation to the age and sex, relation between the certain HPV genotype with the age and sex ; relation between HPV genotype and behavioral risk factors (smoking, number of sexual partners, etc.). From 2007 to 2011, we tested 2521 clinical specimens for HR HPV by AMPLICOR HPV test (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) ; 436 urethral swabs from men and 2085 cervical swabs. Subsequently, 301 HR HPV positive samples were genotyped by Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test (Roche Diagnostics). The significant higher prevalence of HR HPV infection was found in women (42.8%) compared to men (5.4%) in all age groups. Women at the age of 21-25 years old had the highest prevalence (11.5%) and men at the age of 25-30 years old (1.5%). Genotyping analysis revealed that HR HPV 16 (~20%) is the most common followed by HPV 51, 31, 52, 39, 66, 6, 18, 62, 33, 58, 45 and 56 (in descending order).The prevalence of multiple HPV infections was 139 (46.2%). Marital status, number of sexual partners, active smoking and cervical grades were significantly associated with HPV positive infection compared to HPV negative controls. Compare with other European countries and other region of the world, HPV prevalence was unexpectedly high. The HPV 52 was significantly higher (6.1% vs 1.4-5%) while HPV 18 was significantly lower (3.8% vs 5-30%) compared with neighbourhood European countries. The compared analyses between HR HPV positive and negative samples strongly suggest that certain risk factors were significantly associated with HPV infection. In conclusion, due to the high prevalence of HR- HPV in young population, mass vaccination against HPVs is highly recommended.

HR-HPV; north-eastern Croatia; HPV genotyping

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