Asian genotypes of JC virus in Japanese-Americans suggest familial transmission.
To examine the mode of JC virus (JCV) transmission, we collected urine samples from second- and third-generation Japanese-Americans in Los Angeles, Calif., whose parents and grandparents were all Japanese. From the urine samples of these Japanese-Americans, we mainly detected two subtypes (CY and MY) of JCV that are predominantly found among native Japanese. This finding provides support for the hypothesis that JCV is transmitted mainly within the family through long-term cohabitation.
Suzuki
Makoto
M
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. msuzuki@scripps.edu
Zheng
Huai-Ying
HY
Takasaka
Tomokazu
T
Sugimoto
Chie
C
Kitamura
Tadaichi
T
Beutler
Ernest
E
Yogo
Yoshiaki
Y
D001213:Asian; D002140:California; D005190:Family; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D010802:Phylogeny