RESUMEN
Cervical lesions, induced by high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), in the context of HIV remains a global health challenge. We determined the effect of HR-HPV on the development of cervical lesions in women with and without HIV infection. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 257 women living in Cameroon. HIV serology, HR-HPV genotyping and cervico-vaginal smear (CVS) were performed for all participants; among those declared HIV positive, plasma HIV viral load and CD4 count were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using Graph Pad version 6.0; P#x003C;0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the participants in our study was 37±6.5 years. According to HIV serology, 184 (71.59%) were HIV-positive vs. 73 (28.40%) HIV-negative. Among the HIV-positive women, the median CD4 count was 438 [IQR: 317-597] cells/mm3 and the median viremia was #x003C;40 [IQR: #x003C;40-2318] copies/ml. After successful genotyping, the prevalence of HR-HPV was 36.32% (73/201), with a significantly higher proportion in HIV-infected individuals (41.98% (55/131) vs. 25.71% (18/70); P=0.02; OR=2.1). The overall rate of cervical lesions was 23.34% (60/257), with a non-significantly higher proportion in HIV-infected participants (25.00% (46/184) vs. 19.17% (14/73); P=0.31). Relevantly, the presence of HR-HPV was significantly associated with cervical lesions (P#x003C;0.0001; OR=5.07), with a higher odds of cervical lesion in HIV-positive individuals (P#x003C;0.0001 and OR=5.67) compared to HIV-negative individuals (P=0.03 and OR=3.83). Although oncogenic HPV appears to be an independent factor in the development of cervical lesions, this study reveals higher odds of cervical lesions among HIV/HPV co-infection than in HPV infection alone.
RESUMEN
Background: The burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) is high in Cameroon, but knowledge on high-risk oncogenic HPV (HR-HPV) is limited. Our study sought to ascertain the HR-HPV genotypes circulating in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among non-vaccinated women in Cameroon. Detection of HR-HPV was performed by real-time PCR on cervico-vaginal swabs. Predictors of HR-HPV were determined following logistic regression analysis, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: In total, 364 women were enrolled, with a median age of 41 (34-50) years. Of these, 3.0% were smokers and 26.09% reported having more than three sexual partners. The overall HR-HPV positivity rate was 21.43% (95% CI 17.21-25.64). Predictors of HR-HPV were young age, i.e < 41 years (aOR (95% CI) 0.408 (0.194-0.862); p = 0.018), smoking (aOR 5.199 (1.314-20.575); p = 0.018), and having more than three sex partners (aOR: 2.335 (1.133-4.811); p = 0.022). Overall, 12 HR-HPV genotypes were identified, with 26.98% women coinfected with at least two HR-HPVs, including one case of a triple coinfection. According to to the circulating genotypes, potential vaccine effectiveness was 47% for the 4-valent vaccine and 70% for the 9-valent vaccine. Conclusion: Within the Cameroonian context, at least one out of five women is likely to be an HR-HPV carrier, especially among young people, smokers, and those with multiple sexual partners. Importantly, HR-HPV infection is highly diversified, with vaccine efficacy ranging from about 47% (4-valent) to 70% (9-valent).
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is still a neglected common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, who are mainly people living with HIV (PLHIV) in whom reactivation of toxoplasmosis may occur with advanced HIV conditions in resource-limited settings (RLS). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the correlation between anti-toxoplasmic immunoglobulin G (anti-Toxo IgG) concentration and the immuno-virological status of PLHIV. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the year 2018 among 100 PLHIV aged ≥18 years in Yaounde-Cameroon. For each participant, anti-Toxo IgG, CD4-T lymphocytes, and plasma viral load (PVL) were measured using ELISA, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 56% of the participants were seropositive for anti-Toxo IgG, while 33% were negative and 11% were equivocal. All (n=19) those with PVL>1000 copies/mL were seropositive to anti-Toxo IgG versus 52.85% (37/70) with PVL<1000 copies/mL; p<0.0001. Interestingly, all (n=11) those with severe immunodeficiency (T-CD4<200 cells/µL) were positive to anti-Toxo IgG versus 57.69% (45/78) with T-CD4>200 cells/µL; p<0.0001. Most importantly, PVL and anti- Toxo IgG concentration were positively correlated (r = 0.54; p<0.0001), while T-CD4 and anti- Toxo IgG concentration were negatively correlated (r = - 0.70; p<0.0001). Adjusting age, gender, immune status, and virological profile in logistic regression shows that only immune status was independently associated with the serological status of toxoplasmosis (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION: In Cameroon, about half of PLHIV might be seropositive to anti-Toxo IgG, with decreasing immunity appearing as a risk of toxoplasmosis relapse. Thus, in the context of immunodeficiency, routine quantification of anti-Toxo IgG would alleviate the programmatic burden of this opportunistic infection in RLS with the generalized HIV epidemic.
