Distribution and Public Health Implications of HPV Genotypes in Pap Smear Samples: An In-depth Study on Women in Ahvaz

Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, with over 90% of cases attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV is a small, non-enveloped virus with double-stranded DNA, and nearly 200 types have been identified. These types are classified into low-risk and high-risk groups based on their lesion-causing potential. Low-risk mucosal HPVs, such as HPV6 and HPV11, cause genital warts, whereas high-risk mucosal HPVs, such as HPV16 and HPV18, can lead to squamous intraepithelial lesions and progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate HPV infection and determine its low- and high-malignancy risk genotypes in pap smear samples from women in Ahvaz. Methods: This epidemiological analytical study was conducted on 290 pap smear samples collected from women who visited various laboratories in Ahvaz for pap smear testing. The presence of the HPV genome was determined using PCR with specific primers, followed by genotyping. Results: Out of the 290 collected samples, 216 (74.5%) tested positive for HPV. Among the low-risk types, type 6 was the most prevalent, while among the high-risk types, type 39 was the most frequent. No significant correlation was found between the age of the participants and HPV positivity (P-value > 0.05). Conclusions: Based on our study results, it appears that HPV plays a significant role in screening women in the region. PCR testing and HPV genotyping could serve as suitable alternatives to pap smear tests.