Persistent infection of human papillomavirus 18: case report.

SUMMARY. Objective. This report shows that the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in the genital tract could be the result of a persistent and not a recent infection. Study design. This case is part of a cross sectional study to determine the prevalence and genotypes of HPV in women with cervical cancer and precursor lesions. HPV diagnosis was done by polymerase chain reaction using MY09/MY11/ HMB01 primers; for genotyping line blot hybridization was used. Results. A biopsy of a woman with diagnosis of cervical cancer, who had sexual intercourse for the last time 30 years before, was positive to type 18 HPV. Conclusions. A new diagnosis of HPV in the genital tract is not necessarily the result of a recent infection.