Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes among outpatients referred to five laboratories in Shiraz, Iran.

introductionHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and a major cause of genital warts and anogenital cancers in both sexes. This study assessed HPV genotype distribution in a large outpatient population in southwestern Iran to inform preventive strategies. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, 10,739 outpatient samples were collected from 2018 to 2023. Specimens included urine from men and vaginal swabs from women with normal cytology. HPV genotypes were assessed using DNA extraction, PCR and Direct Flow Chip method.

resultsHPV prevalence was 41.6% (94.8% in females, 5.2% in males). Women had a higher positivity rate (42.0%) than men (34.2%). The highest prevalence (44.3%) occurred in the 31-40 age group. High-risk types were present in 65.8% of positive cases. Women were more affected by high-risk genotypes, while low-risk types predominated in men. The most frequent high-risk genotypes were HPV-16, -53, -52, -66, and - 39; the most common low-risk types were HPV-6, -54, -42, -62, and - 44. Most individuals had a single infection. Mixed infections, more common in women, often involved both high- and low-risk types and showed greater diversity with age.

conclusionHPV prevalence, particularly of high-risk types, is notably high among women in southwestern Iran. The peak age of infection is higher than in developed countries. Differences in genotype distribution compared to American and other Iranian studies highlight the need for region-specific vaccination strategies targeting locally prevalent genotypes.