Molecular evidence of simian virus 40 infections in children

Recent studies have detected simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA in certain human tu mors and normal tissues. The significance of human infections by SV40, whic h was first discovered as a contaminant of poliovirus vaccines used between 1955 and 1963, remains unknown. The occurrence of SV40 infections in unsel ected hospitalized children was evaluated. Polymerase chain reaction and DN A sequence analyses were done on archival tissue specimens from patients po sitive for SV40 neutralizing antibody. SV40 DNA was identified in samples f rom 4 of 20 children (1 Wilms' tumor, 3 transplanted kidney samples). Seque nce variation among SV40 regulatory regions ruled out laboratory contaminat ion of specimens. This study shows the presence of SV40 infections in pedia tric patients born after 1982.