Objective:

To explore the correlation between HPV-16 and HPV-18 genotype viral loads and the severity of cervical lesions in pre-cervical cancer patients in Botswana.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• HPV-16 was detected in 33.94% and HPV-18 in 14.68% of the samples.
• Higher cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade was associated with increased HPV-16 viral load.
• HPV-18 exhibited a variable pattern, with the highest viral load observed in CIN II.
• HPV-16 presence and elevated viral load were significant risk factors for CIN III.
• HPV-18 presence and higher viral load were associated with increased risk for CIN II but not CIN III.
• HIV status did not significantly impact the viral load of HPV-16 and HPV-18.

Interpretation:

Higher HPV-16 viral loads correlate with more severe cervical lesions, while HPV-18 is associated with CIN II. HIV status does not influence viral loads.

Limitations:

• The study is based on a relatively small sample size of 109 patients.
• Findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Conclusion:

Higher HPV-16 viral loads are linked to more severe cervical lesions, while HPV-18 is associated with CIN II. Further research is needed.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.