High prevalence of high‐risk oncogenic human papillomaviruses harboring atypical distribution in women of childbearing age living in Libreville, Gabon

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Abstract
The extent of human papillomavirus (HPV) genital shedding and type‐specific diversity were evaluated in 354 consecutive women of childbearing age living in Libreville, Gabon. Detection of HPV DNA was performed by PCR using the MY09/MY11 primer set on DNA extracted from endocervical swabs. All PCR positive specimens were subjected to direct sequencing and HPV genotypes were identified on the basis of >95% sequence homology in the L1 region. Reverse line blot hybridization assay was used when a genotype could not be resolved by sequencing alone. HPV DNA was detected in 163 (46%) women, all clinically asymptomatic for HPV‐related lesions. The highest prevalence of genital HPV detection (45%) was in the age group from 22 to 29 years. A total of 90 women (55%) harbored high‐risk (HR) genotypes, with the most common being HPV‐53 (19; 12%), HPV‐58 (17; 11%), and HPV‐16 (16; 10%). Low‐risk genotypes were found in 36 (22%) women with HPV‐54 and HPV‐70 being the most frequently detected (17; 11% and 10; 6%, respectively). Finally 37 women (23%) tested positive for genotypes of unknown oncogenic risk, the most common in this category being HPV‐83 (20; 12%). Multiple infections were detected in 35 (21%) women. By multivariate analysis, HPV genital shedding was significantly associated with young age (OR: 0.34; P < 0.007). The multivalent vaccine currently available against cervical carcinomas, is only active against HPV‐16 and HPV‐18, and will thus have a low impact in this setting. J. Med. Virol. 77:430–438, 2005.

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