BACKGROUND: The causative agent of cervical cancer referred to as Human
papillomavirus (HPV) remains a real public health problem. Many countries in
West Africa, such as Togo have no data on the high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection
and genotypes distribution. In order to fill the knowledge gap in the field in
Togo, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of
pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix and HR-HPV genotypes among Togolese women.
METHODS: Samples were collected from 240 women by introducing a swab in the
cervix. Then, the screening of precancerous cervical lesions using the visual
inspection with acetic acid and lugol (VIA / VIL) was conducted. The HR-HPV
genotypes were characterised by real-time multiplex PCR.
RESULTS: Out of 240 women recruited, 128 (53.3%) were infected by HR-HPV. The
most common genotypes were HPV 56 (22.7%), followed by HPV 51 (20.3%), HPV 31
(19.5%), HPV 52 (18.8%) and HPV 35 (17.2%). The least common genotypes were HPV
33 (2.3%) and HPV 16 (2.3%). Among the women, 1.3% (3/240) were positive to
VIA/VIL.
CONCLUSION: This study allowed HR-HPV genotypes to be characterised for the
first time in Lomé, Togo. This will help in mapping the HR-HPV genotypes in West
Africa.

Genotypes; HR-HPV; Lomé; PCR; Togo.