Abstract B77: High-risk human papillomavirus genotypes among HIV-negative black women with or without cervical disease in South Africa

Objective: Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are associated with cervical pre-malignant lesions and cervical cancer. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of advanced cervical disease as well as cervical cancer. We examined the prevalence and distribution of high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, and 66) among HIV-negative Black women enrolled in three cervical cancer screening studies in Cape Town, South Africa. Knowledge of the epidemiology of high-risk HPV types in this population will help target prevention interventions. Methods: Black women, aged 17-65 years, were tested for high risk HPV DNA using the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay and positive samples were typed by PCR to determine the specific genotype. Cervical disease status was determined by colposcopy and cervical biopsy. The prevalence and distribution of high-risk HPV types as well as the frequency of multiple high-risk HPV types were examined by age and cervical disease. Results: Among 8,073 HIV-negative women included in the study, 20.9% (n=1689) were HC2 HPV DNA positive; and, in 73.62% (n=1223/1661) of these positives, a specific high-risk HPV type was detected. Overall, the prevalence of high-risk types was 19.94%. The most common high-risk types across cervical disease status were HPV 16 and 35. Among women without cervical disease, younger women, aged 17-29 years, had the highest prevalence of high-risk types in comparison to older women. Among women with CIN 2 or CIN 3, a higher prevalence of HPV 16 and 45 was observed among older women, aged 40-65 years, than among younger women, aged 17-29 years; as for HPV 35, the prevalence was stable across age groups. The distribution of HPV 16, 35, and 33 were statistically significantly higher among HC2 DNA positive, high-risk HPV positive women with advanced cervical disease than women with no cervical disease or CIN 1 (p-values < 0.02). Younger women, aged 17-29 years, had more multiple types overall and across all cervical disease status than older women, aged 40-65 years. Conclusion: HPV 16 and 35 are the leading contributors of cervical disease among HIV-negative Black South African women. Therefore, the HPV vaccine has the capacity to result in significant reduction in HPV-related cervical disease in this population. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B77.