BackgroundThere is limited data in Ghana on the epidemiology of HPV and cervical neoplasia and their associations with HIV. This study aimed to compare among HIV-1 seropositive and HIV-seronegative Ghanaian women: (1) the prevalence, genotype distribution and risk factors associated with cervical HPV infection; and (2) the prevalence and risk factors associated with abnormal cervical cytology.MethodsA comparative frequency-matched study was conducted in a systematic sample of women aged ≥18 years attending HIV and general outpatient clinics in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Participants were interviewed and cervical samples collected for HPV genotyping (Seegene Anyplex-II HPV28) and cytological testing.ResultsOverall, 333 women were recruited, 163 HIV-1 seropositive and 170 HIV-seronegative women of mean age 43.8 years (SD ±9.4)) and 44.3 years (SD ±12.8), respectively. The prevalence of 14 high-risk (hr) HPV genotypes was higher among HIV-1 seropositive women (65.6% vs. 30.2%, P < 0.0001), as was proportion with multiple hr.-HPV infections (60.6% vs. 21.3%, P < 0.0001). HPV35 was the most prevalent hr.-HPV genotype in both groups (11.9% and 5.3%). The main factors associated with hr.-HPV infection were age for HIV-positive women and circumcision status of main sexual partner for both HIV-negative and positive women.Abnormal cervical cytology prevalence was higher among HIV-1 seropositive women (any SIL: 14.1% vs. 1.2%, P < 0.0001; low-grade SIL [LSIL]: 4.9% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.02; high-grade SIL: 1.8% vs. 0%, P = 0.07). Among HIV-1 seropositive women, number of pregnancies and CD4+ cell count were associated with LSIL+ cytology. There was strong association between LSIL+ abnormalities and HPV35 (aOR = 4.7, 95%CI: 1.3–17.7, P = 0.02).ConclusionsHIV-1 infected women bear significant burden of HPV infection and related disease. Prevention and screening programmes should be specifically deployed for this population in Ghana.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-017-3682-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Upon virus infection, the cell mounts an innate type I interferon (IFN) response to limit the spread. This response is orchestrated by the constitutively expressed IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-3 protein, which becomes post-translationally activated. Although the activation events are understood in detail, the negative regulation of this innate response is less well understood. Many viruses, including Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), have evolved defense strategies against this IFN response. Thus, KSHV encodes a viral IRF (vIRF)-2 protein, sharing homology with cellular IRFs and is a known inhibitor of the innate IFN response. Here, we show that vIRF-2 mediates IRF-3 inactivation by a mechanism involving caspase-3, although vIRF-2 itself is not pro-apoptotic. Importantly, we also show that caspase-3 participates in normal IRF-3 turnover in the absence of vIRF-2, during the antiviral response induced by poly(I:C) transfection. These data provide unprecedented insight into negative regulation of IRF-3 following activation of the type I IFN antiviral response and the mechanism by which KSHV vIRF-2 inhibits this innate response.

IntroductionBlood borne viral hepatitis transmission still ranges between 4-20% in many Ghanaian communities. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) also called liver cancer is reported as the leading cause of cancer mortality among males in Ghana. We studied the knowledge and risk factors associated with barbers’ occupation in the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).MethodsA randomized cross-sectional survey of 200 barbershops was conducted in Kumasi between January and August 2013. Barbershops, which operated continuously for more than 8 months, were selected for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to the study participants. Data was entered and analysed in Microsoft Excel spread sheet and SPSS v12. The percentage value of each question was calculated.ResultsAll the barbers involved in this study used a new razor blade on every client and claimed to sterilize the hair trimmers after use on every client. The methods of sterilization; 46.5% of the barbers used the ultraviolet radiation sterilizer cabinet, 29% used 70% alcohol and 23% used antiseptic solutions. More than thirty-six percent (36.5%) and 5% of the barbers had heard of HBV and HCV respectively. Only 7% and none knew the route of transmission of HBV and HCV respectively, whereas 7% knew sharing razor blade or hair trimmer could transmit both HBV and HCV. More so, 2% knew HBV and HCV could cause cancer and 2% had received the HBV vaccine. The majority of barbers (63%) had education up to the junior secondary school level. None of the barbers used a new apron nor washed their hands after work on each client.ConclusionAwareness of barbers about HBV or HCV and job-related factors contributing to spread of infections was very poor among the vast majority of the barbers studied. Thus, giving training for the barbers is required toward prevention of blood- borne infections associated to their profession.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: R. Newton's institution received a grant from AstraZeneca for other works and he personally received travel expenses from AstraZeneca. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.