title: BK and JC polyomavirus infections in Tunisian renal transplant recipients.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the rate of BK (BKPyV) and JC (JCPyV) polyomavirus infections and their influence on allograft function in Tunisian renal transplant recipients. A total of 72 renal transplant recipients were studied. BKPyV and JCPyV were detected and quantified by real-time PCR in urine and plasma. Demographic and laboratory characteristics were collected for each patient. Polyomavirus DNAuria was detected in 54 (75%) of renal transplant recipients: 26 (36%) had BKPyV DNAuria, 20 (28%) had JCPyV DNAuria, and 8 (11%) had a dual BKPyV/JCPyV DNAuria. BKPyV DNAemia was detected in four (5.5%) patients, whereas no patient had JCPyV viremia. More than 70% of BKPyV and JCPyV infections started within the first 3 months post-transplant. The risk for positive DNAemia was observed in patients with DNAuria level >10(7) copies/ml. BK Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) was observed in two patients. This study highlights the high frequency of BKPyV and JCPyV viruria during the first year post-transplant with the highest incidence observed in the third month. We identified several risk factors that were associated with BKV DNAuria including age, sex of patients, and the use of tacrolimus instead of cyclosporine A at month 3. The use of cyclosporine A instead of tacrolimus was identified as risk factor for JCV viruria in month 3. No statistical difference in the allograft function was found between BKPyV and/or JCPyV infected and uninfected patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, LR-99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boukoum
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, LR-99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nahdi
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wissal
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sahtout
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Fattouma Borguiba, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skiri
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Fattouma Borguiba, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sabra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aloui
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Abdelatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achour
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier I, hôpital Saint-Éloi, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segondy
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, LR-99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mahjoub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aouni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine / Q000821:virology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: BK polyomavirus; JC polyomavirus; Renal transplant recipients; Tunisia; prospective study