title: Individuals infected with JC polyomavirus do not present detectable JC virus DNA in oropharyngeal fluids.
abstract: JC virus (JCV) is ubiquitous in the human population. Primary infection normally occurs during childhood and is followed by a lifelong persistent infection. The main mode of transmission remains unknown. Several authors have hypothesized that JCV transmission occurs through the respiratory route, and that respiratory secretions could represent a possible source of viral particles. The present study intended to evaluate oropharyngeal fluids from patients infected with JCV, in order to ascertain if respiratory secretions could indeed constitute a source of exposure to this polyomavirus. Oropharyngeal washing samples from 25 patients co-infected with JCV and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 were evaluated for the presence of JCV DNA. Regardless of the titre of antibodies or the presence of viral urinary excretion, JCV genome was not detected in oropharyngeal samples collected from any of the patients infected with JCV included in this study, which may suggest that oropharyngeal fluids are an unlikely source for JCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Infectious Diseases Department, Coimbra's University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duque
authors.affiliation: Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luxo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Infectious Diseases Department, Coimbra's University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meliço-Silvestre
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Eugene O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Major
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral