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Background: The link between cervical lesions and human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 is well established, but the magnitude of the risk of association and the importance of other high-risk hpv types is uncertain in Bayelsa state. Aims: The study was aimed at detecting and typing of cervical hpv among selected subjects, establish the relationship between cervical dysplasia and hpv and also asses the level of knowledge of hpv, perception and attitude of women in Bayelsa State. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were used to assess the level of knowledge of hpv and cervical cancer. Papanicolaou stain for cervical cytology and Haematoxylin and Eosin stain used to study general tissue structure. Nested PCR was used to detect and multiplex PCR for typing. Results: The prevalence of hpv spectrum among participants was 52% while high risk hpv was 24%. Five (5) subtypes were identified. The subtypes identified were hpv 52(40.4%) most predominant, followed by 51(1.9%), 45(1.9%), 31(1.9%) and hpv 30 (9.6%). The age-specific prevalence showed a peak prevalence of 44.2% in the ages of 25-34 years and lowest in the age group (15-24years). Sequence alignment showed a single point mutation for hpv 45 and several points' mutation for hpv 52 at certain points of the sequenced nucleotides with Sequence no: 53CN12 and SeqH2011055303 and accession no: MG195999 and MG196000. HPV 52 was highest compared to previous studies, national and international. The level of knowledge on hpv infection and cancer of the cervix was low among subjects with a percentage score of 38.9%. Among other variables studied, life time sexual partners showed a statistically significant relationship in the prevalence of hpv (OR=0.02, P˂0.01). Perceived seriousness on hpv infection was high among hpv positive subjects compared with hpv negative participants ( =16.39, p ˂0.01). Conclusion: The emergence of hpv 52 in the study area requires public health attention and thus urgent need for local hpv vaccines production.

The relative balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines appears crucial in the outcome of infections. We assayed the levels of some proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10 in homozygous haemoglobin (Hb) AA, heterozygous HbAS-genotyped and sickle cell (HbSS) individuals with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.Levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of 111 children aged 1-5 years with uncomplicated malaria and 89 healthy controls were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and haematological parameters were estimated using the automated Swelab counter (Boule Medical, Stockholm, Sweden).Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were significantly higher in HbAA and HbAS-genotyped patients compared to their respective healthy controls (P0·05). IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-10 were significantly elevated in HbAA compared to HbAS and HbSS subjects (P0·05). The mean haematological parameters (total white cell count and monocytes) of HbSS-infected children were significantly higher compared to those of HbAA and HbAS subjects (P0·05); however, their mean packed cell volume was significantly lower compared to others (P0·05).Our results showed a stronger Th1 cytokine response in HbAA than HbAS and HbSS individuals; this may suggest an immunocompetence of the HbAA individuals in early infection.