title: Frequency and subtype of BK virus infection in Iranian patients infected with HIV.
abstract: Human polyomavirus BK virus (BKV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that infects approximately 90 % of the general population as a subclinical or mild infection. In immunosuppressed patients, such as HIV cases, BKV may be reactivated resulting hemorrhagic cystitis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. However, there are limited studies on prevalence and molecular epidemiology of BKV in Iran. We therefore aimed to evaluate the prevalence and subtypes of BKV in Iranian HIV patients. A total of 99 patients with HIV infection were enrolled in the study. Presence of BKV DNA in plasma was evaluated by nested PCR. PCR products were sequenced directly, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. BKV DNA was detected in 8.08 % of HIV patients. BKV viremia presented in 4 out of 25 patients (16 %) not receiving antiretroviral therapy in comparison with 4 out 74 of HAART-treated patients (5.4 %) (P = 0.023). In patients with CD4 counts ≥200 cells/mm(3), viremia was found more commonly (7/80 = 8.8 %) than in those with lower counts (1/19 = 5.2 %) (not significant). All sequenced BKV isolates belonged to subtype Ib-2. Our findings indicated that the prevalence of BKV viremia is relatively prevalent in patients with HIV infection and significantly higher in naïve than HAART-treated cases. Therefore, HAART can eliminate BKV infection from plasma and reduce viremia although the actual implication of BKV viremia in HIV patients is not clear.
authors.affiliation: Payame Noor University of Tehran Shargh, Tehran, Iran. shahla_akhgari@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhgari
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran, Iran. minoomohraz@ams.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohraz
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. azadmanesh@pasteur.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azadmanesh
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis and AIDS Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. farhang_v_r@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vahabpour
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. kazemim1362@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemimanesh
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, 13164, Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran. araghakhani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghakhani
authors.affiliation: Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. dr.panahi48@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manizheh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jozpanahi
authors.affiliation: Iranian Society for Support of Patients with Infectious Disease, Tehran, Iran. mohammadbanifazl@aol.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banifazl
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, 13164, Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran. anahita.bavand@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bavand
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, 13164, Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran. amitisramezani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amitis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: BK virus (BKV); Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Prevalence; Subtype