title: Prevalence and genotypes identification of human papillomavirus infection in a population of South Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A limited number of human papillomavirus (HPV) types account for the majority of invasive cervical cancer cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess, in a southern Italian region, where HPV infection had not yet been investigated, the prevalence of type-specific HPV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiplex PCR was used to test cervical specimens from 871 asymptomatic women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HPV infection rate was 23.1%, with the highest prevalence being observed in women aged 20-30 years (32.6%). Type 16 was the most frequent HPV type detected either in mono-infected (39.8%) or in multi-infected (46.3%) women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HPV infection rate was higher than reported from other Italian areas. Our results further emphasise the importance of vaccinations to immunize females before they acquire HPV infection.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Taranto
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lipsi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nirchio
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antonetti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miragliotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003127:Colposcopy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral