Viruria of Human BK Virus and John Cunningham Virus among Renal Transplant Recipients and Healthy Control in Southeast of Caspian Sea

Background: Members of the Polyomaviridae family, BK virus (BKV), and John Cunningham virus (JCV) are linked to polyomavirus-associated nephropathy-associated transplant rejection in immunodeficient patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of BKV and JCV in immunocompetent individuals in the north of Iran. Methods: Ninety-one urine samples were obtained from renal transplant recipients with a mean age of 39.78 ± 11.19 years. A healthy control group of 65 volunteers with an average age of 40.32 ± 10.7 years also contributed. After DNA extraction, positive cases were detected through PCR. Genotyping was done by alignment and phylogenetic tree construction of the VP1 region against all known JCV and BKV genotypes. Results: The prevalence of BKV and JCV was 15.38 and 19.78%, respectively. JCV was detected in 7.69% of the control group. The prevalence of the BKV between the case and control groups was significant ( p < 0.0001). There was no significant association between BKV and JCV and duration of dialysis ( p > 0.05). Overall, 62.16% of JCV cases were genotype I. Besides, genotype II was dominant within patients with BKV-positive patients. Discussion: The results obtained here show a relatively lower prevalence of BKV and JCV in immunocompromised renal transplant receivers and healthy control than those reported from other areas in Iran. JCV genotyping was evaluated for the first time in Iran. Genotype I for JCV and genotype II for BKV were dominant genotypes in the north of Iran.