Human papillomavirus type distribution and HPV16 intratype diversity in southern Brazil in women with and without cervical lesions.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) intratype variants (specific lineages and sublineages) are associated with pathogenesis and progression from HPV infection to persistence and the development of cervical cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the prevalence of HPV infection and distribution of HPV types and HPV16 variants in southern Brazil in women with normal cytology or intraepithelial lesions.

Methods: HPV typing was determined by L1 gene sequencing.