High incidence of urinary JC virus excretion in nonimmunosuppressed older patients

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.