Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in women with cervical alterations from north Argentina.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in northern Argentina, showing the highest mortality rate in the country (approximately 22 cases/100000 women). Objective: The aim of this study was to provide epidemiological data on the prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women with pre-neoplastic lesions before the massive introduction of HPV vaccination in the country. Materials and Methods: Exfoliated cervical cells were collected to screen for HPV using the widely known MY09/11 PCR, followed by the restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) technique from a total of 714 women with previously diagnosed atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LG-SIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HG-SIL). Results: Overall HPV prevalence was 48.2% in ASCUS (24 different HPV types detected), 66.5% in LG-SIL (37 HPV types detected) and 82.6% in HG-SIL (16 HPV types detected). HPV-16 was the most prevalent type among all cases. With respect to multiple HPV infections, 9.6% were observed in ASCUS, 14.3% in LG-SIL and 11.4% in HG-SIL. Conclusion: The major strength of our study is the assessment of a large series of women with cytological alterations in this region. The information attained will be useful as a regional baseline for future epidemiological vigilance, in the context of the national HPV vaccination program.

Epidemiología de la infección cervical por virus Papiloma humano en Ushuaia: Argentina / Cervical infection epidemiology of human papillomavirus in Ushuaia: Argentina

El virus Papiloma humano (HPV) es un factor necesario para el desarrollo del cáncer cervical. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la epidemiología de dicha infección en Ushuaia, Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Se realizó un estudio de caso-control de 132 cepillados endocervicales. La detección y tipificación del genoma viral fue realizada por la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, con posterior análisis de polimorfismos de fragmentos de restricción o hibridación. La prevalencia general de la infección fue 41%, correspondiendo 26% a los controles y 71% a los casos. El grupo etario con mayor prevalencia de HPV fue el de 14 a 24 años. Los tipos virales más frecuentes en la población infectada fueron HPV16 (23%), HPV18 (11%) y HPV33/35 (8% cada uno), resultando infectados con tipos virales de alto riesgo el 30% de las muestras, 16% de los controles y 60% de los casos. El trabajo aporta los primeros datos sobre los tipos virales predominantes en Ushuaia. Los resultados demostraron una prevalencia menor que en regiones con alta incidencia de cáncer cervical, siendo el HPV16 el más frecuente. La información obtenida permitiría estimar la efectividad de las vacunas en vías de aprobación, en la población estudiada.

Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is decisive in the causation of cervical cancer. In order to evaluate the epidemiology of HPV infection in Ushuaia, Province of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, 132 endocervical cytobrushes from preneoplastic and neoplastic cases and controls were studied. Detection and typing of the viral genome was performed by polymerase chain reaction, combined with a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay or hybridization. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 41% in the population examined, with a frequency of 26% in the controls and 71% in the cases under study. The 14-24 age group showed the highest HPV prevalence. The most common viral types in the infected population were HPV 16 (23%), HPV 18 (11%), HPV 33 (8%) and HPV 35 (8%), while high risk viral types were detected in 30% of the samples, 16% of the controls and 60% of the cases. This study provides the first data on the predominant viral types in Ushuaia. Our results show lower levels of infection than in regions with a high incidence of cervical cancer, HPV 16 being the most prevalent viral type. This research may be useful for selecting a specific vaccine targeting the population examined.

Prevalencia de la infección cervical por virus papiloma humano (HPV) en población caucásica y guaraní, residente en la provincia de Misiones, Argentina / [Prevalence of cervical infection by human papilloma virus (HPV) in the Caucasian and Guaraní populations residing in the province of Misiones, Argentina]

A genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) of a high risk type is necessary for the development of cervical carcinoma. HPV viral distribution among diverse world populations is not homogeneous, viral reservoirs having been detected in particular regions that can interact when humans engage in active contacts. Such viral dynamics alters the population cervical cancer relative risk, particularly when the prevalence of HPV oncogenic risk types is high. We have compared women exposed to different social, cultural and environmental conditions regarding cervical HPV infection, analyzing two populations from Misiones, Argentina: White urban women and--Guarani indian women living in the rain forest. Demographic, clinical and sexual behavior data were collected and cytological, colposcopical and virological analysis performed. Detection and genotypification of HPV was performed by PCR-RFLP. The prevalence for generic HPV infection found was high in both populations, urban women: 43

, with a statistically significant difference. These values were positively associated to age of first intercourse, number of male partners and smoking history. HPV type-specific prevalences showed a relative homogeneity between populations when the main representatives of the high risk (16 and 18: 23

) types were grouped together. However, the presence of other viral types was notoriously different, representing only 9

in urban women and 29

in Guarani indians with particularly high risk HPV types (33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 58, 67, 68). This situation might be of importance for future viral dynamics, phylogenetic and vaccine formulation studies.

) and low risk (6 y 11: 12