Prevalence of co-infection with human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis and risk factors associated with cervical cancer in Congolese women

Dorine Florence Luthera Ngombe Mouabata; Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba; Norvi Rigobert Bienvenu Massengo; Freddy Saturnin Pouki; Donatien Moukassa; Moulay Mustapha Ennaji

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105287

Prevalence of co-infection with human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis and risk factors associated with cervical cancer in Congolese women

Microbes Infect. 2024 Mar-Apr;26(3):105287. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105287. Epub 2023 Dec 30.

Authors

Dorine Florence Luthera Ngombe Mouabata¹, Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba², Norvi Rigobert Bienvenu Massengo³, Freddy Saturnin Pouki³, Donatien Moukassa³, Moulay Mustapha Ennaji⁴

Affiliations

¹ Team of Virology Oncology and Biotechnologies Laboratory of Virology, Oncology, Biosciences, Environment and New Energy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco; Department of Health and Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien N'gouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
² Department of Health and Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien N'gouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo; Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Polyclinique de la Fondation Marie Madeleine Gombes, Congo; Pointe-Noire Research Zone, National Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IRSSA), Brazzaville, Congo.
³ Department of Health and Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien N'gouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
⁴ Team of Virology Oncology and Biotechnologies Laboratory of Virology, Oncology, Biosciences, Environment and New Energy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco. Electronic address: m.ennaji@yahoo.fr.

PMID: 38163457
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105287

Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most frequently diagnosed viruses in developing countries. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is an important cofactor in HPV-induced cervical cancer. Cervico-uterine smears were taken for cytology, and a total of 131 samples were analysed. HPV prevalence and CT were detected using specific primers (L1 gene and omp-1 gene). 23 (17.5 %) HPV-only samples were detected, CT-only positives were 10 (7.6 %). And HPV/CT co-infection was 13 (9.9 %). Identified risk factors associated with HPV/CT co-infection were risky sexual behaviour and cytology status. The prevalence of HPV and CT and their co-infection rates being high in our study population, may be an indicator of cervical cancer risk. Consequently, there is an urgent need to raise awareness and take appropriate precautions.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Chlamydia trachomatis; Co-infection; Human papillomavirus; Risk factors.

MeSH terms

Chlamydia Infections* / complications
Chlamydia Infections* / epidemiology
Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
Coinfection* / epidemiology
Female
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
Humans
Papillomaviridae / genetics
Papillomavirus Infections* / complications
Papillomavirus Infections* / epidemiology
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / epidemiology