High Incidence of Urinary JC Virus Excretion in Nonimmunosuppressed Older Patients

Abstract

Urine specimens from 120 patients attending urologic clinics were screened by blot hybridization for the presence of a polyomavirus DNA. Detected viral DNA was then identified as BK or JC by fine restriction enzyme analysis. BK and JC viral DNA was found in 5 (4%) and 35 (29%) patients, respectively. Detection rates were compared among three age groups: 0–29, 30–59, and 60–89 years. Detection of JC viral DNA increased with age and reached the highest value (45%) in the group aged 60–89 years. For BK viral DNA a correlation between detection and age was not clear because the rate of detection was low, although the highest rate (9%) occurred in the oldest group. To confirm the active urinary excretion of polyomavirus DNA in older patients, urine specimens from 23 patients (60–90 years) treated at an internal medicine clinic were examined for viral DNA. Bk and JC viral DNA were in 2 (9%) and 12 patients (52%), respectively. These results suggest that JC virus is frequently reactivated in older individuals.