title: HPV prevalence and type distribution in women with or without cervical lesions in the Northeast region of Romania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. While Romania has the highest incidence of cervical cancer in Europe, the prevalence of HPV has not been evaluated. We report the first data on HPV prevalence and type distribution in Northeast Romania.
  
  
  METHODS
  HPV prevalence and genotype distribution was investigated in 514 consecutively women with or without cervical lesions in Northeast Romania. Genotyping was performed with Linear Array Genotyping/Roche kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study group, 192/514 (37.4%) patients were positive for HPV (infected with single and with multiple HPV types). Most frequent types were: 16 (10.5%), 53 (5.44%), 51 (5.05%), 52 (4.08%) 18 (2.91%) and 31 (2.73%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection with high risk types of HPV is common in Northeast Romania. Enhanced and systematic screening for cervical cancer is needed. Our results call for the implementation of a National HPV vaccine program in Romania.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Universitatii Str, NO 15, Iaşi 700115, Romania. ursuramona@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ramona Gabriela
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ursu
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onofriescu
authors.forename: Dragoş
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemescu
authors.forename: Luminiţa-Smaranda
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Iancu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral