Molecular prevalence of JC virus in Tehran, Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Since data about prevalence of JC virus in Iranian population is scarce, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of JC virus in healthy individuals who had attended Fajr hospital and Farjam clinical laboratory in Tehran, Iran.


BACKGROUND
JC virus is the causative agent of progressive multifocal encephalopathy (PML) in individuals with suppressed immune system. There are some evidences that this virus is responsible for some forms of cancers for example colorectal and gastric cancers in humans.


METHODS
Urine samples from 133 healthy individuals older than 18 years old were collected and after extraction of viral DNA, PCR was performed to determine the presence of virus. Results of the test and demographic data of subjects were entered into SPSS program and were analyzed by it.


RESULTS
71 subjects were male and 62 individuals were female. Mean age of the population was 42.23 ± 13.47. From the total number of 133 subjects, 51 (38.3%) individuals were positive for the presence of JC virus. Gender had statistically significant relationship with JC virus presence (p= 0.042). Age was not significantly related to JC virus presence status (p= 0.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Obtained rate of JC prevalence in this study is similar to the results of studies in India and Philippine. Because of this virus's role in AIDS and the role of this virus in gastrointestinal cancers have been revealed in recent years, the more extended studies on the prevalence of this virus in different populations in Iran is necessary.
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sajjad Majidizadeh
SM
Bozorgi
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Mohammad Ebrahim
SM
Tahaei
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Reza
SR
Mohebbi
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Negar
N
Sahba
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Behzad
B
Damavand
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sara
S
Romani
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Pedram
P
Azimzadeh
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamed
H
Naghoosi
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Saman
S
Milanizadeh
Farjam Medical Lab, Tehran, Iran.
Abolfazl
A
Mohebbi
Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Zali
Iran; JC virus; Prevalence