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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
13:45
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA in persons without merkel cell carcinoma
Ulrike Wieland1, Cornelia Mauch, Alexander Kreuter
1Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Koeln, Germany. ulrike.wieland@uni-koeln.de
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 1, 2009
Abstract:
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA was detected in 88% of Merkel cell carcinomas in contrast to 16% of other skin tumors. MCPyV was also found in anogenital and oral samples (31%) and eyebrow hairs (50%) of HIV-positive men and in forehead swabs (62%) of healthy controls. MCPyV thus appears to be widespread.
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