Human polyomaviruses 6, 7, 9, 10 and Trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus in HIV-infected men

Recently, several novel human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) have been detected. HPyV6, 7, 9 and 10 are not associated with any disease so far. Trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS)-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) can cause the rare skin disease TS. We have evaluated cutaneous DNA prevalence and viral loads of five HPyVs in HIV-infected men compared to healthy male controls. 449 forehead swabs were analysed by HPyV-specific real-time PCR. HPyV6, HPyV7, TSPyV and HPyV10 were found significantly more frequently on the skin of 210 HIV-infected compared to 239 HIV-negative men (HPyV6, 39.0 vs 27.6 %; HPyV7, 21.0 vs 13.4 %; TSPyV, 3.8 vs 0.8 %; HPyV10, 9.3 vs 3.4 %; P<0.05, respectively). HPyV9 was not detected. Multiple infections were more frequent in HIV-positive men, but HPyV-DNA loads did not differ significantly in both groups. In contrast to HPyV6, 7 and 10, TSPyV and HPyV9 do not seem to be a regular part of the human skin microbiome.