title: Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus among Hakka women in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV genotypes are associated with varying degrees of pathogenicity. To better formulate strategies for cervical cancer prevention, we investigated the population-specific distribution of HPV genotypes, including those with high carcinogenicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January to December 2012, a cervical cancer-screening program for HPV infection in Hakka women of Heyuan City Guangdong province was conducted. Of 736,000 women residents, 8,284 volunteers were recruited. The cytology specimens of 107 women were not adequate and excluded. Thus, 8,177 women submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing of 16 HPV genotypes via MassARRAY spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risk stratification based on genotypes indicated that the prevalence of overall, high-risk, and low-risk HPV infections was 12.27%, 14.20%, and 0.79%, respectively. Of the 1,003 women positively infected, 82.75% were infected with a single HPV type; 17.25% were infected with ≥2 types. Analysis revealed a U-shaped curve in HPV prevalence that correlated with age group, with peaks at ages 18-24 y (22.03%) and 60-65 y (25%). The most frequently detected HPV genotype was HPV-52 (26.81%), and then HPV-16 (17.54%), HPV-58 (14.25%), HPV-18 (10.16%), HPV-68 (8.27%), HPV-39 (5.68%), and HPV-51 (5.38%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV-52 is the most prevalent genotype infecting Hakka women. Therefore, vaccination against HPV-52 is imperative. The prevalence of HPV infection is highest in the younger (18-24 y) and older (60-65 y) age groups, indicating that screening for HPV in Hakka women should be performed early and maintained in the elderly.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Xiang-Xing
authors: XX
authors: Zeng
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Li-Xiang
authors: LX
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Women's Health, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Xiu-Xia
authors: XX
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Cai-Hua
authors: CH
authors: He
authors: Department of Gynecology, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Wei-Guo
authors: WG
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Surgery, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Wen-Qing
authors: WQ
authors: Yuan
authors: Department of Surgery, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Yan-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Qiu
authors: Department of Women's Health, Heyuan Women and Children's Hospital, Heyuan 517000, China.
authors: Zhi-Xiang
authors: ZX
authors: Liu
keywords: Hakka; Human papillomavirus (HPV); cervical cancer; genotypes