Coinfection of torque teno virus (TTV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical samples of women living in Tehran, Iran.

Background and Objectives: Torque Teno virus or transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) is a non-enveloped virus with a single strand circular DNA genome that currently is classified in the Alphatorquevirus genus and the family of Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the fresh cervical cytobrush specimens were collected from 150 women referred to Dena laboratory in Tehran. Viral DNA was extracted from samples. The HPV-DNA was detected and genotyped. Then, nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) was performed for TTV using specific primers. Results: Among 50 cervical specimens without HPV, 14 were TTV positive (28%); among 50 low-risk HPV cervical specimen, 23 were TTV positive (46%), and from 50 high-risk HPV cervical specimen, 48 were TTV positive (96%). There is a significantly higher prevalence of TTV virus in low-risk and high-risk papillomavirus-infected specimens than in healthy specimens (p 0.0001). Additionally, TTV is more prevalent in samples containing high-risk papillomaviruses than in samples with low-risk papillomaviruses (P = 0.048). Conclusion: The higher prevalence of TTV among people infected with papillomavirus than in non-infected people indicates that both viruses are transmitted by the same mechanism (sexual route). In addition, the prevalence of TTV in samples containing high-risk papillomavirus is significantly higher than that in samples containing low-risk papillomavirus. The presence of papillomaviruses, particularly high-risk types, may be associated with TTV proliferation, which requires further research in the future.