A prospective study of renal transplant recipients reveals an absence of primary JC polyomavirus infections.

BACKGROUND

Both JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) are acquired at an early age. JCPyV causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and has been described in association with nephropathy.

OBJECTIVES

Urine and plasma samples from renal transplant recipients (RTRs) were examined for JCPyV to determine its involvement in causing infection and disease.

STUDY DESIGN

JCPyV testing was performed on 112 RTRs included in a randomised controlled study of steroid-sparing immunosuppressive regimens [1]. Urine and EDTA blood samples were collected pre- and post-transplantation and analysed for JCPyV using real-time PCR and sequencing to determine genotype and viral variation. Donor and recipient IgG antibody status to JCPyV was also determined.

RESULTS

Overall, 13.3% of RTRs were positive for JCPyV of which one patient developed viraemia without viruria. JCPyV DNA was detected early following transplantation (defined as five days post transplantation) from recipients with donors that were positive for JCPyV IgG antibodies. No dual cases of JCPyV and BKPyV were observed. One patient sample had sequence duplication in the non-coding control region.

CONCLUSIONS

Like BKPyV, JCPyV tends to occur early post transplantation but did not result in sustained viraemia. There was no deterioration of renal function in patients positive for JCPyV. As with other viruses, JCPyV donor serostatus was a risk factor for detection of JCPyV DNA. JCPyV appears to protect individuals from BKPyV infection, as recipients were twice as likely to develop BKPyV with a negative JCPyV donor.