Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: HPV Genotype Prevalence and Distribution during 2009 -2018 in Xinjiang, China: 
Baseline  Surveys Prior to Mass HPV Vaccination  
 
Version: 1 Date: 15 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Gordana Kovacevic  
 
Review er's report:  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I agree with the authors that the health data about HPV vaccination program in Xinjiang Uyghur 
Autonomous Region is scarce. Baseline surveys prior to mass HPV vacc ination are need to 
determine vaccine efficacy and to detect changes in prevalence of types which are not covered 
by vaccine. Authors describe these problems very clearly.  
 
Authors investigated HPV infection by using a commercially available HPV test amon g 37722 
women. All enrolled women were without relevant clinical information and cervical cytology 
results, which authors described as limitations of study. Finally, authors found that overall HPV 
prevalence was 14.02% and that HPV types 16, 52, 58, 53, 31  were the most prevalent. This 
study is in concordance with studies from other Chinese provinces that confirmed that these HPV 
types were more likely to persist among Chinese women. Study presents data regarding the 
prevalence and type distribution of HPV infection across the decade, in one of the largest 
provinces of Peoples Republic of China. In purpose of the best explanation of wide variation of 
HPV prevalence over the decade (29.8% in 2014 and 4.96% in 2017) I recommend that the 
analytical sensitivity and specificity of diagnostics test to be described.   
 
Applied statistical analysis is appropriate. I suggest names and references of used statistical 
modules to be presented. The reader has no insight in size of age groups. The tables should 
contain tota l number of participant for all of age groups.  
 
TABLE 5 Comparison of simple and multiple infection, HR and LR HPV infection grouped by 
age, nationality and year.  
Should be:  
TABLE 5 χ2 test for comparison of distribution of frequencies between women inf ected with 
single and multiple HPV types, and between women with HR and LR HPV types by age, 
nationality and year. Prevalences are in brackets, beside analog frequencies. The comparisons of 
distributions of frequencies of HR and LR HPV groups should be per formed with "mixed" group 
too, or this group should be omitted.  
 
The manuscript requires minor technical and grammatical editing. Abbreviations should be 
explained at first mention and should be uniform in whole of manuscript (for example there are 
two ab breviations used for high risk HPV: hrHPV and HR HPV). Number format should be 
uniform, too.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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