Human papilloma and other DNA virus infections of the cervix: A population based comparative study among tribal and general population in India

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 6; p. e0219173
• Main Authors: Ghosh, Supriti, Shetty, Ranjitha S, Pattanshetty, Sanjay M, Mallya, Sneha D, Pandey, Deeksha, Kabekkodu, Shama Prasada, Kamath, Veena G, Prabhu, Navya, D'souza, Joslin, Satyamoorthy, Kapaettu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 27.06.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Biology and life sciences; Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Cervical cancer; Cervix dysplasia; Coinfection - epidemiology; Coinfection - virology; Comparative literature; Comparative studies; Complications and side effects; Computer and Information Sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections - epidemiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA sequencing; DNA virus infections; DNA Virus Infections - epidemiology; DNA Virus Infections - virology; Dysplasia; EDTA; Employment; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology; Ethnic Groups; Female; Gene sequencing; Health; Health risks; Herpes Simplex - epidemiology; Herpesvirus infections; Higher education; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16 - classification; Human papillomavirus 16 - genetics; Humans; Hygiene; India - epidemiology; Infection; Infections; Life sciences; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular biology; Papillomavirus; Papillomavirus infections; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; People and Places; Personal hygiene; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Population; Population studies; Population-based studies; Prevalence; Prevention; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic factors; Software upgrading; Tumors; Unemployment; Uterine Cervical Diseases - epidemiology; Uterine Cervical Diseases - virology; Viral infections; Viruses; Women; Women's health; Womens health; India
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219173

Despite being preventable, cervical cancer remains a major health concern among women. Persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and other viral co-infections may influence cervical dysplasia. We determined and compared the prevalence and risk factors of cervical viral infections among the tribal and general population of southern coastal Karnataka, India. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1140 and 1100 women from tribal and general population, respectively. Cervical infections with HPV, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes-Simplex Virus (HSV) were examined using polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and DNA sequencing. HPV prevalence was higher among tribal women (40.6%) than general population (14.3%) while the prevalence of EBV (55.1%) and CMV (49.4%) were lower among tribal women than general population (74.3% and 77.5%, respectively). HSV infection was observed in tribal women only (1.8%). Among HR-HPV strains, HPV-18 was predominant among tribal population (28.3%) while, HPV-16 was predominant among the general population (9.1%). Infections were associated with age, educational status, unemployment and personal hygiene of tribal women. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that HPV-16 variants of tribal participants were closely related to non-European sublineages indicating greater risk of HPV persistence and carcinogenesis. The study provides a comparative estimate for DNA virus infections of the cervix among women from general as well as tribal population in this region and also reveals a different type-specific pattern of viral infection. Further research is required to delineate the role of specific interactions between multiple virus infections and their role in carcinogenesis.