Genomic Detection of HPV Genotypes 16 and 18 in Cervical Lesions in West Azerbaijan Province

Background & Objective: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a tumor-causing virus which replicates in epithelial cells. There are more than 100 subgroups of HPV. High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 play a major role in the etiology of cervical cancer. This study was conducted with aim to investigate the prevalence of HPV genotypes 16 and 18 in cervical lesions of women in West Azerbaijan Province.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 225 samples of cervical lesions. The presence of HPV 16 and 18 types was analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. DNA was extracted from each specimen using a DNA extraction kit (Intron-Korea Company), and PCR was applied to amplify the HPV E6/E7 gene of HPV 16 and 18 using type-specific primers.Results: In this study, 39 out of 225 (17.33%) samples were positive. Of the 39 positive samples, HPV 16 and HPV 18 were identified in 14 (35.90%) and 25 (64.10%) samples, respectively. The average age of positive individuals was 34.18 ± 9.627 years, and the age group of 31-40 years showed the highest frequency with 21 cases (53.85%). Urmia with 70.76% and Khoy with 17.94% had the highest frequency among the cities of West Azerbaijan Province.Conclusion: Given the global prevalence of human papillomavirus and its high incidence in developing countries, including Iran, early diagnosis and avoiding risky sexual behaviors, as well as awareness through media and social networks, can help prevent the widespread spread of this disease.