BK and JC polyomavirus infections in Tunisian renal transplant recipients

Hanen Boukoum (1) , Imen Nahdi (1) , Wissal Sahtout (2) , Habib Skiri , Sabra Aloui , Abdelatif Achour (2) , Michel Segondy (3, 4) , Mahjoub Aouni (1)

1 LR99ES27 - Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives [Monastir]
2 CHU Sahloul - Hôpital Universitaire Sahloul
3 Pathogénèse et contrôle des infections chroniques (PCCI)
4 Laboratoire de Virologie [CHRU Montpellier]

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 Polyo-mavirus-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 tacroli-mus 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.

Mots clés: BK polyomavirus; JC polyoma-virus; prospective study; Renal transplant recipients; Tunisia

Domaines: Ethique

Hanen Boukoum, Imen Nahdi, Wissal Sahtout, Habib Skiri, Sabra Aloui, et al.. BK and JC polyomavirus infections in Tunisian renal transplant recipients. Journal of Medical Virology, 2015, 87 (10), pp.1788--1795. ⟨10.1002/jmv.24234⟩. ⟨hal-01997126⟩