Characterization of JC human polyomavirus infection in a Portuguese population

JC virus (JCV) is ubiquitous in the human population, infecting children asymptomatically. After primary infection, JCV persists in the host throughout life and is often excreted in the urine. Two hundred thirty-four urine samples and 78 serum samples, collected from 171 healthy individuals and 63 patients infected with HIV, were used to characterize JCV infection in a Portuguese population. Using PCR, JCV DNA was detected in 38% of the urine samples. A significant difference in the excretion rate was observed between patients infected with HIV (51%) and healthy individuals (33%). The frequency of JCV viruria increased with age in healthy individuals, but not in patients infected with HIV. JCV urinary load was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and was independent of gender, age, HIV infection, and CD4+ cell count. Overall, the JCV genotype detected most commonly was 1B, followed by genotypes 2B and 4. The detection and quantitation of JCV-specific antibodies were performed in serum samples by an established enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Antibodies to JCV were observed in 91% of the patients tested, irrespective of HIV infection. A positive correlation between JCV urinary load and antibody titers was demonstrated. The present study provides the first characterization of seroprevalence and urinary excretion of JCV in a Portuguese population and revealed similar results to those observed in other European countries. A comparison between healthy individuals and patients infected with HIV, despite identical values of seroprevalence, showed some differences in the pattern of urinary excretion. J. Med. Virol. 82:494-504, 2010.