MOLECULAR DETECTION OF HIGH RISK HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS SUBTYPES IN CERVICAL SMEARS AMONG SUDANESE WOMEN.

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide, with an expected 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020. The human papillomavirus is recognized as a primary cause of cervical cancer. This study aims to elucidate the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes and examine their correlation with cytological abnormalities among Sudanese women, providing critical insights for targeted vaccination strategies and cervical cancer prevention programs.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: This descriptive cross-sectional laboratory-based investigation was carried out in Soba Teaching Hospital and Academy Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. This study included 236 Sudanese female patients who visited the clinic for follow-up or screening. The Pap smear and HPV DNA screening tests for 16,18,33,45, 58 were conducted. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 26.0.

RESULTS

Out of 236 cervical smear samples from Sudanese females ranging in age from 20 to 80, with a mean of 37.7 years, 99 (41.9%) were positive and 137 (58.1%) were negative. High-risk HPV subtypes included HPV16,18,33,45, 58, with percentages of 5.1%, 2.5%, 24.2%, 7.6%, and 2.5%. High-risk HPV subtypes were found in 99 of 135 abnormal pap smears, with a significant p-value of 0.001.

CONCLUSION

High-risk human papillomavirus subtypes play an important role in cervical cancer occurrence. High-risk HPV 33 was the predominant subtype detected. Further nationide study is required fous on the prevalence of HPV-genotype 33, and distribution of other high-risk genotypes in the country regions specially after the refugee return back home from the east african regional countries.