Seroepidemiology and High Negativity of IgG Antibodies Against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Type 6, 11, 16, and 18 Virus-like Particles in Women of Childbearing Age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

This study reports the seroepidemiology and high negativity of IgG antibodies against the most common low-and high-risk HPVs among sexually active women of childbearing age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A total of 182 consented women (age range 19-45 years) were consecutively recruited to participate in the study. Using a Performa specifically designed for this study, pertinent socio-demographic/behavioral data were collected. Five 5 mL blood samples were also collected (aseptically) from each woman. Plasma of each sample was assayed for HPV-6/11/16/18 viruslike particles using a HPV IgG ELISA kit (Dia.Pro). The study showed a high overall anti-HPV seronegativity of 95.1% among these women. High group-specific seronegativity was also observed which ranged from 90.0 −100.0%. None of the variables evaluated showed statistical association with the HPV seronegativity. This study further confirmed the presence of HPV and susceptibility of a large population of women in their childbearing age to infections with these four HPV genotypes in Nigeria. Our findings therefore advocate for routine and early screening and clinical evaluation of all women of childbearing age for HPV-infection and -related manifestations.

Human papillomavirus-specific antibody status among unvaccinated subjects in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia

“…Low seroprevalence of 6.6% among 91 female subjects aged 16-40 years was detected using the Dia.Pro ELISA kit in a study performed by Adekunle et al(11). In Nigerian study using the same kit, Okonko et al(17) revealed high anti-HPV seronegativity of 95.1% among 182 women of childbearing age (age range 19-45 years), while Faneye et al(18) determined a slightly higher percentage antibody response in about 28.6% and 30% of unvaccinated men and women, respectively, attending the STI clinics. Also, using VLP-based ELISA kit Lu et al(19) reported the presence of anti-HPV IgG antibodies to HPV16/18 in 13.3% and 19.8% of males aged 18-25 and 26-35 years, respectively.…”