BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a key factor in the development of cervical cancer and HPV genotyping is crucial for screening. There are significant differences in the pathogenic potential of the various HPV types. Currently, clinical data on HPV82 are scarce, and the relationship between its viral load, pathogenicity, and persistence is unknown. This study analyzed the characteristics of HPV82 single infection. METHODS: Cervical samples were collected to determine the positivity rate of HPV82 and its clinical features in a single infection and examined the association between viral load, persistent infection, and pathogenicity. RESULTS: The positive rate of HPV82 among women attending hospitals for gynecological physical examination or medical consultation was approximately 0.24% (1,033/435,072). Among 335 cases of HPV82 single infection, the number of patients with lesion-free tissue biopsy results, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, CIN2, CIN3, and cervical cancer were 263, 42, 11, 18, and one, respectively. A follow-up of 210 patients showed that 21.21% (7/33) of patients with CIN1 progressed to high-grade lesions, whereas 7.34% (13/177) of lesion-free patients progressed to CIN. The viral load in the CIN and cervical cancer group was significantly higher than that in the lesion-free group (p <
0.001), and the viral load in the persistent infection group was higher than that in the viral clearance group (p <
0.001). CONCLUSION: The pathogenicity of single HPV82 infection ranks in the middle among high-risk HPV types, and it can lead to cervical cancer, warranting the inclusion of HPV82 in expanded screening for HPV. High viral load is a significant factor that improves the persistent infection ability and pathogenicity of HPV82. Viral load is expected to serve as a screening risk factor for persistent infection and disease progression associated with HPV82.