Polyomaviruses BK- And JC-DNA quantitation in kidney allograft biopsies.
BACKGROUND
Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) is one of the most common viral disease affecting renal allograft, with BK being the most frequent causal agent and JCV being considered responsible in <3% of the cases.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify polyomaviruses BK and JC load by real-time TaqMan PCR in tissue specimens (renal and ureteral) from kidney transplant recipients.


METHODS
One-hundred-thirty-eight specimens (125 kidneys, 13 ureters) obtained from 109 patients were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR for the detection of BKV- and JCV-DNA. Demographic, virological, and histopathological data were collected.


RESULTS
BKV-DNA was positive in 32 of 109 patients (29.6%) and JCV-DNA in 20 of 109 patients (18.3%). The highest BK viral loads (>10(4) genome equivalents/cell) were found in two renal samples with histopathologically confirmed PVAN; while JC viral load was >10(4) genome equivalents/cell in one ureteral sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Although quantitation of viral DNA on renal allograft biopsies could be complementary to histopathological evaluation and the highest viral load are detectable in renal specimens with PVAN, the identification of a diagnostic cut-off should require further studies.
Costa
Cristina
C
Department of Public Health and Microbiology, Virology Unit, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Santena 9, 10126 Torino, Italy. cristina.costa@unito.it
Bergallo
Massimiliano
M
Sidoti
Francesca
F
Astegiano
Sara
S
Terlizzi
Maria Elena
ME
Mazzucco
Gianna
G
Segoloni
Giuseppe P
GP
Cavallo
Rossana
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001706:Biopsy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007668:Kidney / Q000821:virology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral