High genotypic diversity of human papillomavirus among women in Cameroon: implications for vaccine effectiveness

• Published in: IJID regions Vol. 5; pp. 130 - 136
• Main Authors: Tchouaket, Michel Carlos Tommo, Fokam, Joseph, Sosso, Samuel Martin, Semengue, Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni, Yagai, Bouba, Simo, Rachel Kamgaing, Sando, Zacharie, Nka, Alex Durand, Tchinda, Gaëlle Panka, Takou, Désiré, Fainguem, Nadine, Chenwi, Collins, Ka'e, Aude Christelle, Abba, Aissatou, Zam, Marie Krystel Nnomo, Perno, Carlo-Federicco, Colizzi, Vittorio, Ndjolo, Alexis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cameroon; genotype; HR-HPV; Original Report; positivity rate; vaccination; positivity rate; Cameroon; HR-HPV; genotype; vaccination
• ISSN: 2772-7076; 2772-7076
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.09.014

•Africa has the highest positivity rate of circulating HR-HPV genotypes in the world.•Sub-Saharan Africa is the area with the highest rate of HR-HPV.•Several HR-HPV genotypes other than 16 and 18 are present in Cameroon.•No available HR-HPV vaccine is yet used in Cameroon.•The 9-valent vaccine would achieve much better vaccine coverage. The burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) is high in Cameroon, but knowledge on high-risk oncogenic HPV (HR-HPV) is limited. Our study sought to ascertain the HR-HPV genotypes circulating in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among non-vaccinated women in Cameroon. Detection of HR-HPV was performed by real-time PCR on cervico-vaginal swabs. Predictors of HR-HPV were determined following logistic regression analysis, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. In total, 364 women were enrolled, with a median age of 41 (34–50) years. Of these, 3.0% were smokers and 26.09% reported having more than three sexual partners. The overall HR-HPV positivity rate was 21.43% (95% CI 17.21–25.64). Predictors of HR-HPV were young age, i.e < 41 years (aOR (95% CI) 0.408 (0.194–0.862); p = 0.018), smoking (aOR 5.199 (1.314–20.575); p = 0.018), and having more than three sex partners (aOR: 2.335 (1.133–4.811); p = 0.022). Overall, 12 HR-HPV genotypes were identified, with 26.98% women coinfected with at least two HR-HPVs, including one case of a triple coinfection. According to to the circulating genotypes, potential vaccine effectiveness was 47% for the 4-valent vaccine and 70% for the 9-valent vaccine. Within the Cameroonian context, at least one out of five women is likely to be an HR-HPV carrier, especially among young people, smokers, and those with multiple sexual partners. Importantly, HR-HPV infection is highly diversified, with vaccine efficacy ranging from about 47% (4-valent) to 70% (9-valent).