Molecular Characterization of BK Virus Detected in Renal Transplant Patients in Sri Lanka: a Preliminary Study

Overview

Journal Indian J Med Res

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2022 Dec 1

PMID 36453291

Authors

A K D Varuni Yashodha Ratnayake

Narmada Fernando

Thusitha Gajanayake

Shiroma Mangalika Handunnetti

S Chrishan Jude Jayamaha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background & Objectives: BK virus (BKV) is a polyomavirus and cause of a common infection after renal transplantation which could be preceded to BKV-associated nephropathy. It has four main subtypes (I-IV). BKV subtypes II and III are rare, whereas subtype I shows a ubiquitous distribution. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevailing BKV subtypes and subgroups in renal transplant patients in Sri Lanka.

Methods: The presence of BKV in urine was tested through virus load quantification by real-time PCR from 227 renal transplant patients who were suspected to have BKV infection. Of these patients only 41 were found to be BKV infected (>10 copies/ml) and those were subjected to conventional PCR amplification of VP1 gene followed by BKV genotyping via phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequencing data.

Results: Persistent BK viral loads varied from 1×10 to 3×10 copies/ml. Of the 41 patient samples, 25 gave positive results for PCR amplification of subtyping region of VP1 gene of BKV. BKV genotyping resulted in detecting subtype I in 18 (72%) and subtype II in seven (28%) patients. BKV subgroups of Ia, Ib-1 and Ib-11, and Ic were identified with frequencies of 6/18 (33.3%), 6/18 (33.3%), 5/18 (27.8%), and 1/18 (5.6%), respectively.

Interpretation & Conclusions: Findings from this preliminary study showed a high occurrence of subtype I, while the presence of subtype II, which is rare and less prevalent, was a novel finding for this Asian region. This emphasizes the need for further molecular and serological studies to determine the prevalence of different BKV subtypes in Sri Lanka.

Citing Articles

Evaluating the Efficiency of the Cobas 6800 System for BK Virus Detection in Plasma and Urine Samples.

Song J, Kim S, Kwak E, Park Y Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(17).

PMID: 37685397 PMC: 10487002. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13172860.

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