title: Distribution of BK polyomavirus genotypes in Tunisian renal transplant recipients.
abstract: BK polyomavirus (BKV) is a ubiquitous virus in humans that remains latent in the urogenital tract after a primary infection during childhood. The virus, which is reactivated frequently and excreted in urine, can cause nephropathy in renal transplant recipients. BKV sequences are classified into four subtypes (I-IV). Subtype I and IV are divided further into four and six subgroups, respectively. To characterize the subtypes of BKV prevalent in Tunisia, the presence of the virus was investigated by real-time PCR in urine samples from 77 renal transplant recipients. For subtype identification, a DNA fragment in the VP1 coding region, amplified by nested PCR from positive samples, was sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. In the studied population, subtype I (75.5%), II (14.5%), and IV (2.5%) were identified with a clear predominance of subtype Ib-2 (73%) as observed in European population. This study suggests that in North Africa, the BKV genotype distribution is similar to that of Europe and different from that of sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Transmissible diseases and Biological Active substances LR99-ES27, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia. han_boukoum@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boukoum
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nahdi
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foulongne
authors.forename: Dorsaf
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zallema
authors.forename: Sabra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aloui
authors.forename: Abdelatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achour
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segondy
authors.forename: Mahjoub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aouni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014180:Transplantation; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral