title: Detection of KI WU and Merkel cell polyomavirus in respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: In the last few years, many reports have confirmed the presence of WU, KI and Merkel cell (MC) polyomaviruses (PyV) in respiratory samples wordwide, but their pathogenic role in patients with underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis is still debated. To determine the prevalence of MCPyV, WUPyV and KIPyV, we conducted a 1-year-long microbiological testing of respiratory specimens from 93 patients with cystic fibrosis in Brescia, Italy. We detected PyV DNA in 94 out of 337 analysed specimens. KIPyV was the most common virus detected (12.1%), followed by WUPyV (8.9%) and MCPyV (6.8%). We found an intriguing association between the presence of MCPyV and the concurrent isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as with the patient status, classified as chronically colonized with P. aeruginosa. Our study adds perspective on the prevalence and the potential pathogenic role of PyV infections.
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Iaria
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Caccuri
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Apostoli
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Giagulli
authors: Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Paediatric Department, Children's Hospital, AO Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pelucchi
authors: Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Paediatric Department, Children's Hospital, AO Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Padoan
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Caruso
authors: Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: simona.fiorentini@unibs.it.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fiorentini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Merkel cell polyomavirus; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; emerging respiratory viruses; molecular epidemiology; polyomaviruses