Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in individuals referred to a laboratory in Urmia, Iran.

Background and aim: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major contributor to sexually transmitted infections, especially common in sexually active populations. Although the majority of HPV infections resolve naturally, certain cases can develop into different types of cancer. This study focused on evaluating the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes across males and females of different age groups who visited a laboratory in Urmia, Iran.

Materials and methods: Samples from the genital area were obtained from participants in the study. DNA extraction was performed using the Favorgen extraction kit (Favorgen, Taiwan), followed by genotyping through Real-Time PCR. Genotypes were determined using the MehrViru HPV genotyping kit (MehrViru, Iran). Additionally, demographic details, including age, were analyzed in conjunction with the statistical virological data.

Results: Between 2022 and 2023, a total of 447 individuals, including both referred and routine visitors, attended the laboratory, comprising 431 females and 16 males. Of these, 195 tested positive for HPV, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 43.6%. Among the positive cases, 90 individuals (46.2%) were infected with a single HPV genotype, while 105 cases (53.8%) had multiple genotype infections. The most common genotypes identified were HPV-6 (41.0%), HPV-16 (15.4%), HPV-56 (10.8%), and HPV-90 (10.8%). The least genotype identified was HPV-43, which was detected in 5 cases (2.6%). Additionally, our analysis revealed that women under 30 who tested positive were predominantly infected with the LR genotype, a pattern also seen in the four men in the same age group, all of whom were infected with the LR genotype.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the significant presence of HPV among both females and males visiting the laboratory in Urmia, particularly in individuals under 30 years old. The identification of HPV-6 and HPV-16 as the most prevalent genotypes highlights the importance of age-specific intervention strategies. Although vaccination programs cover HPV-6 and HPV-16, HPV-56 is not included, which underscores the need for comprehensive screening and preventive measures to address the potential long-term impacts of HPV-related diseases.