Human papillomaviruses in cervical specimens of women residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a hospital-based study

• Published in: Journal of infection in developing countries Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 320 - 325
• Main Authors: Al-Ahdal, Mohammed N, Al-Arnous, Walaa K, Bohol, Marie F, Abuzaid, Suhair M, Shoukri, Mohamed M, Elrady, Kamal S, Firdous, Nayyer, Aliyan, Rehab, Taseer, Rabia, Al-Hazzani, Amal A, Al-Qahtani, Ahmed A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 13.03.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cervical cancer; Cytological Techniques; DNA, Viral - genetics; DNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Female; Genotype; Hospitals; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Middle Aged; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Papillomaviridae - classification; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomaviridae - isolation & purification; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Infections - pathology; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Saudi Arabia - epidemiology; Vaginal Smears; Young Adult; Saudi Arabia; Riyadh Saudi Arabia
• DOI: 10.3855/jidc.4220
• ISSN: 1972-2680; 2036-6590

Certain genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) are linked to cervical abnormalities. HPV DNA and genotype prevalence among women residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is investigated in this hospital-based study. Cervical specimens were taken from 519 subjects along with consent and demographic data. DNA was extracted and PCR was performed on all specimens using general primers. Low- and high-risk HPV genotypes were determined by reverse blot hybridization assay using specific probes. SPSS version 17 was used for the data analysis. Of 519 cervical specimens, 164 (31.6%) were positive for HPV DNA. There was a significant association between HPV positivity and abnormal cytology (p < 0.00001). Even though the HPV positivity was relatively high, the squamous intraepithelial lesions were minimal, with one low grade and one high grade case among those HPV DNA-positive specimens. Regardless of single or multiple infections per specimen, HPV-16 was found in 87.8%, followed by HPV-18 in 86%, and HPV-11 in 78.3%. Amplification technology showed that HPV is common among women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a strong association between HPV infection and cytological changes. HPV-16 was the most frequent genotype but had a low prevalence of cervical cancer.