Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in the genital tract determined by hybrid capture assay

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most prevalent sexually-transmitted virus worldwide. It is known to be the etiological agent of cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Consequently, there is strong motivation to evaluate HPV testing in cervical cancer screening. Recently developed, the second generation of the hybrid capture test (HCA II) is a non-radioactive, relatively rapid, hybridization assay, designed to detect 18 HPV types divided into high and low-risk groups. We evaluated 7,314 patients (5,833 women and 1,481 men) for HPV infection by HCA II. Among them, 3,008 (41.1 percent) presented HPV infection: 430 (14.2 percent) had HPV DNA of low risk for cancer, 1,631 (54.2 percent) had high risk HPV types and 947 (31.5 percent) had both types. The prevalence in females was 44.9 percent. The prevalence of HPV DNA in the group for which cytological results were available was slightly higher: 55.3 percent (1007/1824). Significant differences were detected in the frequency of HPV infection of the cervix between normal cases and those with high-grade squamous-intraepithelial lesions (HSIL)(P<0.0001). Among males, the prevalence was 26.2 percent, composed of 9.1 percent in Group A, 9.7 percent in Group B and 7.4 percent with multiple infections. We observed that male prevalence was lower and that low-risk types were more frequent than in females. HPV viral load was significantly greater in SILs than in normal or inflammatory cases (P<0.0001), suggesting an association between high viral load values and risk of SIL. Because of high costs, the HCA II test cannot be recommended for routine mass screening for cervical infection in poor countries. Nevertheless, it was found to be a useful tool, when combined with cytology, discovering high-risk infections in apparently normal tissues and revealing silent infections that may be responsible for the maintenance of HPV in the general population. These findings point...

Infecções causadas pelos papilomavírus humanos: atualização sobre aspectos virológicos, epidemiológicos e diagnóstico / Human papillomavirus infection: update on virological and epidemiological aspects and diagnosis

Papilomavírus humanos são pequenos vírus de DNA capazes de infectar epitélio da pele e mucosas. Mais de 100 tipos já foram descritos, sendo que cerca de 40 causam doenças sexualmente transmissíveis. É também no trato genital que alguns tipos exercem poder oncogênico, sendo 13 considerados agentes etiológicos do câncer cervical, responsável pela morte de 200.000 mulheres em todo o mundo, anualmente. O diagnóstico disponível para o controle das DST e câncer causados pelos HPV baseia-se no tripé colposcopia, citologia e histopatologia, podendo ser confirmado laboratorialmente por técnicas de biologia molecular. Dentre elas: PCR e captura do híbrido. Recentemente, duas vacinas profiláticas contra os tipos 6, 11, 16 e 18 (Merck) e 16 e 18 (Glaxo) foram desenvolvidas. São compostas de VLPs (Vírus-like particles) expressas em leveduras. Resultados promissores vêm sendo publicados, embora alguns mecanismos imunológicos de defesa contra o HPV não estejam ainda esclarecidos.

Human papillomavirus are small DNA viruses capable of infecting the epithelium of skin and mucosa. More than a hundred types have already been described, and nearly 40 promote sexually transmitted diseases. It is in the genital tract that 13 HPV types exert their oncogenic potential, being responsible by the death of 200,000 women worldwide, annualy. The available diagnosis to STD and cancer control is based upon the colposcopy, cytology and histopathology tools, and can be laboriatorially confirmed by molecular biology techniques: PCR and hybrid capture. Recently, two prophylactic vaccines against HPV types 6, 11, 16 e 18 (Merck) and 16 e 18 (Glaxo) were developed. They are composed by VLP (Virus-like particles) expressed in yeasts. Promissing results have been published. Nevertheless, immunological mechanisms for human defense are not well elucidated.

Detecção de papilomavírus humanos pela técnica de captura do híbrido no trato genital masculino / Human papillomavirus detection by the hybrid capture assay in the male genital tract

Estudo das infecções genitais causadas pelo HPV, determinando a prevalência dos tipos de HPV noa pacientes masculinos

Comparative analysis of the polymerase chain reaction and the hybrid capture assay for the detection of human papillomavirus infection

Avalia o emprego de métodos moleculares a fim de comprovar a presença dos HPV no trato genital para utilização em combinação com a citopatologia, método utilizado para rastreamento das lesões causadas pelo HPV

Estudo de infecçöes por papilomavírus humanos em pacientes do sexo feminino, detectados pela técnica de captura do híbrido: levantamento dos casos / Study of human papilomavirus infections in feminine sex patients, detected by hybrid capture assay in: survey of the cases

Estudo das infecçöes genitais causadas pelo HPV, determinando a prevalência dos tipos de HPV em pacientes do sexo feminino, atendidas pelo Laboratório Sérgio Franco do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no ano de 2001, pela técnica de captura do híbrido