Prevalence and type distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus infections among women in Wufeng County, China

Objective The aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence and type distribution of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among women in Wufeng County of Hubei province, where the cervical cancer mortality rate is the highest in China Cervical. Methods DNA samples were collected from 1,100 women, then screened and quantified by a multi-fluorescent, quantitative real-time PCR assay. The cervical DNA samples were then re-typed by real-time PCR using seven-pair primers of high-risk (HR) HPVs designed to detect types 16, 31, 18/45, 33, 52, 58, and 67. Results The overall prevalence of HR HPVs was 11.14 % (95 % CI, 9.74–13.72 %) in Wufeng County, which was not statistically different between Tu (12.17 %; 95 % CI, 10.03–12.34 %) and Han nationality (8.95 %; 95 % CI, 3.55–14.35 %). Among different types of HPV, HPV 16 was the most frequently detected genotype, followed by HPV 52, 58, 18/45, and 31. The most prevalent types of HR HPV in Tu nationality were HPV 16, 52, and 58, and the most prevalent types of HR HPV in Han nationality were HPV 16, 33, and 18/45. The overall prevalence of HPV was highest in the 20–24 year age group (21.43 %; 95 % CI, 17.56–25.30 %) and the prevalence of HR HPV was associated with education. Conclusions HPV 16, 52, and 58 are common genotypes in Wufeng County, and support the hypothesis that second-generation HPV prophylactic vaccines, including HPV 52 and 58, may offer higher protection for women in China and other areas of Asia. The findings of this study contribute to preventive and screening measures in clinical practice.