Detection and Partial Molecular Characterization (E6–E7 Region-Early Genes) and Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Causing Cervical Cancer in and Around Tirupati Region, Andhra Pradesh

Objectives To detect, characterize the diversity of HPV16 and HPV18 species and to study the prevalence of both the serotypes and in and around Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods Pap smear samples were collected from 1035 sexually active women aged 30–50 years, and cytological analyses were carried out. Study was carried out in 34 villages which are in and around Tirupati region. The samples were simultaneously sent for Pap smear and molecular detection of HPV which causes cervical cancer. Three sets of primers were designed, and among these, one set of primer detects HPV serotypes which causes cervical cancer that belongs to alpha papillomavirus and the other two sets were designed for HPV 16 and HPV 18, respectively, DNA testing by PCR was carried out to detect the E6 gene in HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes and genetic diversity of HPV16 and HPV 18 characterized by sequencing specific genomic regions of each HPV genome. Results Among the study population-level, 75 were found to be positive for HPV through a Pap smear, 270 were found to be positive to PCR from a total of 1035 of the study population. The following factors (bold) have signed on the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus on cervical cancer, age at first pregnancy 84.4%(227), age at first intercourse below 20 years 84.4%(227), two or more than three deliveries 76.3% (206) and in demographic factors such as occupation 72.2% (195) of unskilled and skilled. Sexually transmitted infections were about 7.4%(20), study population with irregular menstrual history 33.1%(79), in PS findings of 78.1%(211) were found to be abnormal and positive for HPV, in histopathological studies that is Pap smear, 58.9%(159) were found to have cervicitis, and in normal histopathology studies, 39.3%(106) were positive for PCR, and 44.7%(34) of Pap smear were also found to be positive for PCR. The Isolate of HPV 16 TPT 1a, Tirupati Isolate, and its nucleotide sequence showed similarity with American Isolates with the homology of 96 ± 1%. HPV 18 TPT-1a has shown lineage with A, AA, E lineages, which represents African, Asian American, European lineages, respectively, with 92 ± 1 homology. Conclusion A significant prevalence of HPV infection was detected with the specific primers of HPV 16 and HPV 18 serotypes. This study reports the epidemiological distribution of HPV diversity, as well as factors responsible for causing cervical cancer. In our study, the prevalence of HPV 16 (19%) is shown to be higher than HPV 18 (5.7%)