High-risk HPV genotypes in Zimbabwean women with cervical cancer: Comparative analyses between HIV-negative and HIV-positive women.

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus HPV (HR-HPV) modifies cervical cancer risk in people living with HIV, yet African populations are under-represented. We aimed to compare the frequency, multiplicity and consanguinity of HR-HPVs in HIV-negative and HIV-positive Zimbabwean women.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study consisting of women with histologically confirmed cervical cancer attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. Information on HIV status was also collected for comparative analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from 258 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumour tissue samples, and analysed for 14 HR-HPV genotypes. Data was analysed using Graphpad Prism and STATA.

Results: Forty-five percent of the cohort was HIV-positive, with a median age of 51 (IQR = 42-62) years. HR-HPV positivity was detected in 96% of biospecimens analysed. HPV16 (48%), was the most prevalent genotype, followed by HPV35 (26%), HPV18 (25%), HPV58 (11%) and HPV33 (10%), irrespective of HIV status. One third of the cohort harboured a single HPV infection, and HPV16 (41%), HPV18 (21%) and HPV35 (21%) were the most prevalent. HIV status did not influence the prevalence and rate of multiple HPV infections (p>0.05). We reported significant (p<0.05) consanguinity of HPV16/18 (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-0.9), HPV16/33 (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-1.0), HPV16/35 (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 2.0-6.0), HPV35/51 (OR = 6.0; 95%CI = 1.8-15.0); HPV39/51 (OR = 6.4; 95% CI = 1.8-15), HPV31/52 (OR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.8-15), HPV39/56 (OR = 11 95% CI = 8-12), HPV59/68 (OR = 8.2; 95% CI = 5.3-12.4), HPV66/68 (OR = 7; 95% CI = 2.4-13.5), independent of age and HIV status.

Conclusion: We found that HIV does not influence the frequency, multiplicity and consanguinity of HR-HPV in cervical cancer. For the first time, we report high prevalence of HPV35 among women with confirmed cervical cancer in Zimbabwe, providing additional evidence of HPV diversity in sub-Saharan Africa. The data obtained here probes the need for larger prospective studies to further elucidate HPV diversity and possibility of selective pressure on genotypes.