Detection of Human Papillomavirus 16-Specific Immunoglobulin-G Antibodies among Women Attending General Hospital Kagarko, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Author(s): Banda JM*, Ayodeji SO, Feyisayo AO, Joshua IA, Ola Y, Banda SF and Adama LO
Abstract
Background: Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is one of the high-risk viruses that cause cervical cancers. The virus significantly accounts for cervical cancers in the world today. Persistent infection with HPV-16 leads to development of precancerous lesions of the cervix in infected women, which without medical intervention can progress to invasive cervical cancer. Aim: This study aimed at determining HPV16-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in the serum of consecutive consenting women attending General Out Patient Department (GOPD) at General Hospital Kagarko in Kaduna State. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, laboratory-based study. Self-administered structured questionnaire in addition to laboratory based information were used to collect data for analysis. Five (5) milliliters (mls) of blood was aseptically collected from 110 women, who had no history of HPV vaccination at the time of investigation, for the determination of HPV 16-specific IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: We reported 24.5% sero-positivity for HPV 16-specific IgG antibodies among the women. Sero-positivity increased from 9.5% in women with one lifetime sexual partner to 62.5% in those with multiple sexual partners (p= 0.006). Sero-positivity among women who had their first sexual intercourse at age 13-19yrs (38.3 %) is significantly different from those who had their sexual debut at ≥20 years (14.3 %) [P=0.004]. Conclusion: This finding showed that the women in this study have been exposed to the HPV-16 virus. Further study with a larger population of women in this locality to determine the level of susceptibility or immunity to HPV-16 is strongly advocated for possible intervention with HPV vaccine.