Human Papillomavirus Genotyping among Different Cervical Smears in Duhok/Iraq

Abstract

Background/Objective: Cervical cancer ranks the second among the most common gynecologic cancers. This study<br />was established to determine the distribution of cervical HPV genotypes among different Pap readings in Duhok/Iraq.<br />Methods: Between January and September-2016, HPV-DNA was tested in 64 women. Genotyping was carried out by<br />the hybridization reverse blot technique. Cervical smears were taken, performed by ThinPrep technique and stained by<br />Pap stain. Results: Twenty six (40.6%) cases were positive for HPV, 12 (46.2%) in normal and 14 (53.8%) in abnormal<br />Pap smears. 39 (19 high-risk and 16 low-risk) genotypes were identified. The high risk group comprised 6 HPV16, 4<br />HPV18, 2 HPV66, 2 HPV52, 2 HPV39, 1 HPV56, 1 HPV31 and 1 HPV45. The 16 low risk strains encompassed 4<br />HPV6 strains, 4 HPV71, 2 HPV54 and 2 HPV83, HPV11, HPV61 HPV84, and HPV62. Mixed infections were described<br />in 4 women (6.25%), limited to the NILM, ASC-US and LSIL smears. They included variable admixtures of 7 high<br />risk genotypes, HPV39 (both copies), HPV66 (both copies), HPV52, HPV31, HPV45 and 6 low risk strains: HPV83,<br />HPV6, HPV11, HPV54, HPV62 and HPV71. Conclusions: The higher frequency of HR-HPV than the LR-HPV with<br />identification of 4 mixed cases indicates that our women are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Detection of HR-HPV<br />in NILM and ASC-US smears with restriction of some strains to these 2 categories highlights the great value of HPV<br />genotyping as a surrogate test to pick up unscreened women at risk of developing cervical malignancy particularly<br />when a proper screening program is absent.