Genotyping of Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) by Real-Time PCR in Patients at the Thies Regional Hospital Centre in Senegal

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major global public health concern, with an estimated 662,301 new cases and 348,874 deaths in 2022 (GLOBOCAN). Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), particularly genotypes 16 and 18, accounts for approximately 70% of precancerous lesions. The genetic diversity of HPV influences disease progression, making genotyping essential for effective screening and prevention strategies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among women attending the gynecology department of the Thies Regional Hospital Centre (CHRT), Senegal. Methods: A prospective, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with 27 women consulting for cervical cancer screening or follow-up of precancerous lesions. Cervico-vaginal samples were analyzed using real-time PCR with the AllplexTM HPV28 Detection Kit (Seegene) on CFX96TM Bio-Rad. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected via Google Forms, processed with Excel, and analyzed using RStudio 2025. Results: Among the 27 participants, only one tested positive for the HPV 53/82 complex, corresponding to a prevalence of 3.7%. The mean age was 44.8 years (range 30 - 64). Most participants were married, had never undergone prior HPV testing, and none had received HPV vaccination. Conclusion: The low levels of prior screening and the absence of HPV vaccination observed in this cohort reflect limited awareness and uptake of cervical cancer prevention measures. Although based on a small sample size, these preliminary findings suggest the need for further investigation into local prevention strategies. Further well-powered studies are needed to accurately characterize circulating HPV genotypes in THIES and to inform context-specific screening and vaccination programs.