Association between HPV-16 and HPV-18 viral loads and severity of cervical pre-invasive lesions in women with and without HIV in Botswana

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The study examined the correlation between HPV-16 and HPV-18 viral loads and the severity of cervical lesions in Botswana.
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HPV-16 was detected in 33.94% and HPV-18 in 14.68% of the 109 pre-cervical cancer patients analyzed.
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Higher HPV-16 viral loads were significantly associated with increased severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades.
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HPV-18 viral loads were linked to CIN II but did not significantly impact the risk for CIN III.
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HIV status did not significantly affect the viral loads of HPV-16 and HPV-18 in the studied population.

Frontiers In Oncology

by Leabaneng Tawe, Pleasure Ramatlho, Siqi Zhang, Zackary Salem-Bango, Rebecca Ketlametswe, Daniel P. Morse, Doreen Ramogola-Masire, Erle S. Robertson, Giacomo M. Paganotti, Surbhi Grover
June 23, 2026

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