JC virus genotypes in France: Molecular epidemiology and potential significance for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

JC virus (JCV) induces progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), es pecially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Although JCV genotypes have primarily been associated with geographic patterns, a di stinctive neuropathogenicity was recently attributed to genotype 2. A multi center study was conducted to describe the distribution of JCV genotypes in France and to investigate correlations between genotypes and PML. Genotype s were determined by sequencing 494 bp in the VP1 capsid gene. Peripheral J CV was studied in 65 urine samples from 43 HIV-infected patients and from 2 2 control subjects. Genotypes 1, 4, 2, and 3 were detected in 52.3%, 30.8%, 12.3%, and 4.6% of the samples, respectively. In 56 brain or cerebrospinal fluid samples, PML-associated JCV of genotypes 1, 2, 4, and 3 was found in 66%, 19.7%, 8.9%, and 5.4%, respectively. Infection with JCV genotypes 1 o r 2 was correlated with PML (odds ratio, 3.29). On the other hand, infectio n with JCV genotype 4 could represent a lower risk for PML.