title: Antibodies to Merkel cell polyomavirus correlate to presence of viral DNA in the skin.
abstract: To validate whether Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) serology correlates with MCV infection, we compared real-time polymerase chain reaction results for MCV DNA on fresh-frozen biopsy specimens from various skin lesions and healthy skin from 434 patients to MCV serology results using viruslike particles (VLPs) and MCV neutralization assays. Sixty-five percent of participants were MCV seropositive and 18% were MCV DNA positive. The presence of antibodies was correlated with the presence of virus DNA (odds ratio, 27.85 [95% confidence interval, 6.6-166.5]), with 97% of patients who tested positive for MCV DNA being MCV seropositive. VLP antibody levels correlated to neutralization titers (r=.72), and high antibody levels correlated to high MCV load (P<.01).
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Faust
authors: Diana V
authors: DV
authors: Pastrana
authors: Christopher B
authors: CB
authors: Buck
authors: Joakim
authors: J
authors: Dillner
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Ekström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000821:virology; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral