Human papillomavirus positivity and cervical lesions in relation to HIV infection: a comparative assessment in the Cameroonian female population

Samuel Martin Sosso; Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket; Joseph Fokam; Rachel Kamgaing Simo; Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue; Zacharie Sando; Judith Torimiro; Aline Tiga; Elise Elong Lobe; Georgia Ambada; Achille Nange; Alex Durand Nka; Collins Chenwi; Aissatou Abba; Aude Christelle Ka'e; Nadine Fainguem; Marie Krystel Nnomo Zam; Bouba Yagai; Serge Clotaire Billong; Vittorio Colizzi; Alexis Ndjolo

doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2334

Human papillomavirus positivity and cervical lesions in relation to HIV infection: a comparative assessment in the Cameroonian female population

J Public Health Afr. 2023 Oct 1;14(9):2334. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2334.

Authors

Samuel Martin Sosso¹, Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket^{1

2}, Joseph Fokam, Rachel Kamgaing Simo¹, Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue^{1

3

4}, Zacharie Sando^{5

6}, Judith Torimiro^{1

5}, Aline Tiga¹, Elise Elong Lobe¹, Georgia Ambada¹, Achille Nange¹, Alex Durand Nka^{1

4

7}, Collins Chenwi^{1

5}, Aissatou Abba¹, Aude Christelle Ka'e¹, Nadine Fainguem^{1

4

7}, Marie Krystel Nnomo Zam^{1

5}, Bouba Yagai^{1

4}, Serge Clotaire Billong^{5

8}, Vittorio Colizzi^{1

4

7}, Alexis Ndjolo^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Chantal Biya International Reference Center for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
³ Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴ University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
⁵ University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
⁶ Gyneco-obstetrical and Paediatric Hospital of Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁷ Evangelical University of Bandjoun, Cameroon.
⁸ Central Technical Group, National AIDS Control Committee, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Abstract

Cervical lesions, induced by high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), in the context of HIV remains a global health challenge. We determined the effect of HR-HPV on the development of cervical lesions in women with and without HIV infection. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 257 women living in Cameroon. HIV serology, HR-HPV genotyping and cervico-vaginal smear (CVS) were performed for all participants; among those declared HIV positive, plasma HIV viral load and CD4 count were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using Graph Pad version 6.0; P#x003C;0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the participants in our study was 37±6.5 years. According to HIV serology, 184 (71.59%) were HIV-positive vs. 73 (28.40%) HIV-negative. Among the HIV-positive women, the median CD4 count was 438 [IQR: 317-597] cells/mm3 and the median viremia was #x003C;40 [IQR: #x003C;40-2318] copies/ml. After successful genotyping, the prevalence of HR-HPV was 36.32% (73/201), with a significantly higher proportion in HIV-infected individuals (41.98% (55/131) vs. 25.71% (18/70); P=0.02; OR=2.1). The overall rate of cervical lesions was 23.34% (60/257), with a non-significantly higher proportion in HIV-infected participants (25.00% (46/184) vs. 19.17% (14/73); P=0.31). Relevantly, the presence of HR-HPV was significantly associated with cervical lesions (P#x003C;0.0001; OR=5.07), with a higher odds of cervical lesion in HIV-positive individuals (P#x003C;0.0001 and OR=5.67) compared to HIV-negative individuals (P=0.03 and OR=3.83). Although oncogenic HPV appears to be an independent factor in the development of cervical lesions, this study reveals higher odds of cervical lesions among HIV/HPV co-infection than in HPV infection alone.

Keywords: CVS; Cameroon; HIV; HR-HPV.

Grants and funding

Funding: The financial and material resources such as reagents, laboratory consumables and access to the various platforms for carrying out the biological analyzes of the samples was provides by CIRCB where analysis of samples and data has been heavily involved.