Evaluation of Prevalence of BKV and JCV DNAs in Renal Allograft Recipients in Guilan Province using Real-time PCR, during 2010-2016

Background & objectives: Immunosuppressive drugs that are used for decreasing risk of acute rejection and renal graft loss can lead to reactivation of latent viruses for example BKV and JCV in either renal allograft or recipients. These viruses can lead to renal graft loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality and quantity of the genome of these two viruses in the renal recipients’ plasmas for early detection. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, at first, DNA extraction test was performed on 102 plasma samples of renal allograft recipients. And then, BKV and JCV DNAs were detected and quantified by Real-Time PCR. Results: Fifty four (52.94%) BKV DNA positive and 26 (25.50%) JCV DNA positive were found in 102 recipient plasma samples. Linear range of measurements for BKV and JCV DNAs were within the range of 10-0.596 copies/ μl and 10-0.528 copies/ μl respectively. After calculation of genes amounts based on copy/ml in the plasmas, numbers and percent of positive cases were highlighted in the four categories. BKV and JCV DNA (Co-infection) were detected in 22 (21.56%) plasma samples. Conclusion: Real-time PCR is a quantitative and qualitative PCR method that can detect genome of any type of organisms and their amounts (even in trace amounts), so using of this method is very important for early detection of viruses which can cause diseases and graft rejection in renal transplant recipients.