title: Prevalence and Distribution of BK virus Subtypes in Renal Transplant Recipients Referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BK virus (BKV) belongs to the human Polyomaviridae and the primary BKV infection is occurred during childhood then the virus could be latent through life, especially in the kidneys and urinary system. It became reactive after an immunocompromised status, such as pregnancy or transplantation. Isolated BKV from different locations of the world is grouped into four subtypes using serological and genotyping methods. The BKV subtype I is the dominant one and has worldwide distribution.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  According to our knowledge, there are no data about the BKV prevalence and its genotypes in southwest part of Iran. Considering the high prevalence of renal failure and kidney transplant patients in this part, and the role of BKV in graft rejection, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of BKV infection in renal transplant recipients referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz City, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples were collected from 122 kidney transplant recipients referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. The extracted DNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction, and subtype of each positive sample was determined using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From all study population, 51/122 (41.8%) urine samples were positive for BKV DNA and the other samples were negative (71/122). Forty-eight cases (94.11%) were subtype I and 3 others (5.89%) were subtype IV using the RFLP method. None of the patient's urine samples were positive for subtypes II and III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work is the second study in Iran and considering huge numbers of transplantation in Iran and Khuzestan Province, south western of Iran, in addition to the role of this virus in kidney transplant rejection, routine evaluation of BKV positivity is recommended both for graft recipient and donors. This helps better transplantation result and may prevent graft rejection.
authors: Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Gholam Abbas
authors: GA
authors: Kaydani
authors: Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Manoochehr
authors: M
authors: Makvandi
authors: Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Samarbafzadeh
authors: Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Heshmatollah
authors: H
authors: Shahbazian
authors: Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Mojtaba
authors: M
authors: Hamidi Fard
keywords: BK Virus; Kidney Transplantation; Transplant Recipients