Molecular Epidemiology of Human Papillomaviruses, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium among Female Sex Workers in Burkina Faso: Prevalence, Coinfections and Drug Resistance Genes

Abstract

Viral and bacterial infections represent an occupational risk for female sex workers. This study aimed at determining HPV coinfection with genital pathogens among female sex workers in West and Central Africa and identifying antibiotic resistance genes. A total of 182 samples from female sex workers were analyzed by real-time PCR and classic PCR. For the molecular diagnosis of HPV, the real-time multiplex amplification kit "HPV Genotypes 14 Real-TM Quant" from SACACE Biotechnologies^®, detecting 14 high-risk HPV genotypes, was used, while for other pathogens, the real-time multiplex amplification kit N. gonorrhoeae/C. trachomatis/M. genitalium/T. vaginalis Real-TM, allowing their simultaneous detection, was used. The women were aged 17-50 years with an average age of 27.12 ± 6.09 years. The pathogens identified were HPV 54.94% (100/120), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (13.74%), Chlamydia trachomatis (11.54%) and Mycoplasma genitalium (11.54%). The most common HPV genotypes were HPV68, HPV38 and HPV52. The antibiotic resistance genes identified were bla _{QNR B} 24.00%, bla _GES 22.00%, bla _SHV 17.00%, bla_CTX-M 13.00% and bla _{QNR S} 1.00%. This study revealed the presence of various HPV genotypes associated with other pathogens with problems of antibiotic resistance among sex workers of West and Central African origin working in Ouagadougou.

Keywords: HPV; Neisseriae gonorrhoeae; PCR; STIs; resistance genes; sex workers.

Figure 1

Histogram of the 14 HPV genotypes found in our study in relation to their total number.

Figure 2

Agarose gel image showing the PCR products of the bla _{QNR B} gene. Lane (M) = molecular weight marker; Lane (3; 6; 7; 8; 11) = positive to bla _{QNR B} gene; Lane (C⁻) = negative control.

Figure 3

Antibiotics resistance genes as a function of bacteria.