Abstract

BackgroundCervical cancer is primarily associated with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), with high-risk genotypes HPV-16 and HPV-18 being the focus of vaccination programs in developing countries such as Chile. Preventive screening for cervical cancer in women aged 25 to 64 years remains centered on cytological techniques and is primarily performed based on clinical suspicion of cervical lesions. However, extended screening for HPV genotypes using DNA amplification methods is not routinely applied to the Chilean female population yet. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high- and low-risk HPV genotypes in women without known risk factors in a city in northern Chile.MethodsCervicovaginal brushing samples were obtained from 390 women from Antofagasta city, Northern Chile, aged between 25 and 64 years; genomic DNA was extracted, and multiplex real-time PCR analysis was used to identify a larger group of high- and low-risk HPV genotypes.ResultsAmong 390 samples, HPV prevalence was 36.9%, of which 54.9% were high-risk genotypes, 18.7% were low-risk genotypes, and 26.4% showed mixed infection with both high- and low-risk genotypes. High-risk genotypes 16, 58, 39, and 31 were the most frequently identified among HPV-positive samples. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between HPV presence and both age and suspicion of cervical alteration, and women testing positive for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were more likely to acquire HPV.ConclusionsImplementing a screening program that incorporates extended HPV genotyping in Chile, including testing for high-risk genotypes 16, 18, 31, 39, and 58, is crucial to optimize control, early detection, and vaccination efforts for Chilean circulating HPV genotypes that are not covered by the actual vaccine, thus contributing to a more effective reduction in the burden of disease associated with the virus.