Original Articles
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026)
Molecular profiling of human papillomavirus genotypes, cytomorphological abnormalities, and their predictors in Cameroon: a multi-regional analysis
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 26 March 2026
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Cervical cancer-related mortality remains high in Cameroon, yet data on high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotypes are sparse. This study characterized HR-HPV profiles and evaluated associations with cytomorphological abnormalities and clinical predictors. We enrolled 555 women (≥25 years) from four regions in Cameroon. Cervical samples underwent cytological evaluation and HR-HPV genotyping using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays (Abbott Laboratories, USA; Sacace Biotechnologies, Italy). Questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic/clinical data, and associations with cytological abnormalities and clinical factors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. HR-HPV prevalence was 26.5%, dominated by HPV16 (21.1%), HPV68 (19.4%), and HPV45 (14.3%). Multiple infections (38.8%) significantly increased risks for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL; odds ratio [OR]=1.59, p=0.002) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; OR=2.81, p<0.001). HPV16 showed the strongest association with SCC (OR=23.74, p<0.001) while HPV45 (OR=2.91, p=0.039), HPV31 (OR=4.15, p=0.018), HPV33 (OR=5.47, p=0.039) and HPV52 (OR=6.60, p=0.023) showed significant associations with HSIL and SCC. Significant clinical predictors (p<0.001) included age, parity, tobacco, and HIV-positive status. Our study confirms the diverse HR-HPV genotype profile in Cameroon, with notable frequencies of non-16/18 genotypes and multiple infections. These findings underscore the need for broader-spectrum vaccines and risk-based screening in Cameroon.
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How to Cite
Molecular profiling of human papillomavirus genotypes, cytomorphological abnormalities, and their predictors in Cameroon: a multi-regional analysis. (2026). Sahelian Journal of Responsible One Health, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/sjroh.2026.616
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