INCIDENCE OF JC VIRURIA IS HIGHER THAN THAT OF BK VIRURIA IN TAIWAN

To investigate the prevalence of human polyomaviruses in Taiwan, urine samples from immunocompetent (healthy), transient immunocompromised ( pregnant), and prolonged immunosuppressed (autoimmune disease) individ uals were collected throughout the island. The viral DNA in the urine was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot. The viral genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing within the regu latory region. The overall results, including cases reported previousl y, show that 13.3% (10/75) of immunocompetent individuals, 26.0% (20/7 7) of pregnant women, and 37.5% (18/48) of autoimmune disease patients are JCV positive. All of the immunocompetent individuals are BKV nega tive, but 3.9% (3/77) of the pregnant women and 6.2% (3/48) of autoimm une disease patients are BKV positive. Twenty-four percent (48/200) of the examined urine samples were JCV positive, but only 3% (6/200) wer e BKV positive. JCV positive individuals were mainly infected with CY (42%) and TW-1 (52%) subtypes. These results suggest that the incidenc e of urinary excretion of human polyomaviruses in immunosuppressed ind ividuals is higher than that of immunocompetent individuals. The preva lence of JCV appears to be higher than that of BKV in Taiwan. In addit ion, CY and TW-1 are the predominant subtypes of JCV prevalent in the Taiwanese population. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.