Co-infection of Gardnella vaginalis and human papillomavirus in cervical samples: A multicenter study in Iran

Background and Aim : HPV infection is unlikely to be sufficient to cause cervical cancer, and the contribution of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be the determining factor for cervical lesion-progression. STIs have an influence on women's health, related with cervicitis, urethritis, pelvic inflammation, complications of reproductive health. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis associated with HPV-positive cervical samples patients in Iran.Methods : Three hundred and fourteen women between ۱۸ and ۶۳ years and living at ۱۴ different city in Iran Nucleic acid was extracted from vaginal swab suspensions (Add bio, Korea) and G. vaginalis was detected by single PCR and HPV genotyping by hybridization method (Operon, Spain). The data were recorded using Microsoft Excel ۲۰۰۷ (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA, USA) and analyzed with the SPSS software (version ۱۶; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P value < ۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significantResults : The mean age of the participants was ۳۴.۳۳ years (age range: ۱۸-۶۳years). A total of ۱۲۴ (mean range of ۳۳.۶ years) patients were found positive for HPV with ۱۱.۴۶% (n=۳۶) infected with high-risk type, ۱۴.۶۴% (n=۴۶) infected with low-risk type and ۱۳.۳۷% (n=۴۲) infected with multiple types. Among the ۳۱۴ women, there were ۱۴.۳۳% (n=۴۵) G. vaginalis infection. Among ۱۲۴ women with HPV infection ۱۷.۷۴% (n=۲۲) suffered from G. vaginalis. The most common HPV genotypes in low-risk type’s co-infection with G. vaginalis was HPV۶ (۲۲.۲۲%) and in high –risk type was HPV۳۱ (۸.۸۸%).Conclusion : In current study, G. vaginalis rate was ۱۴.۳۳%. In HPV high-risk type and low risk-type, HPV۳۱ and HPV۶ showed the highest prevalence, respectively. HPV infection is associated with a number of factors, including age, pregnancy, and impaired immune function. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to the aforementioned factors, vaginal infection may be associated with increased odds for HPV infection.