The prevalence of the most important viral infections in renal transplant recipients in Serbia

• Published in: Archives of biological sciences Vol. 64; no. 4; pp. 1285 - 1296
• Main Authors: Cupic, Maja, Lazarevic, Ivana, Pravica, Vera, Banko, Ana, Karalic, Danijela, Naumovic, R., Kravljaca, Milica, Jovanovic, Tanja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad 2012
• Subjects: Kidney transplantation; renal transplant recipients; viral and molecular diagnostic procedures; viral infections
• ISSN: 0354-4664; 1821-4339
• DOI: 10.2298/ABS1204285C

Viruses are the main cause of opportunistic infections after kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), B. K. virus (BKV) and John Cunningham virus (JCV) infections in renal transplant recipients (RTR). This retrospective study of 112 RTR investigated the presence of CMV, EBV and polyomaviruses DNA in plasma and/or urine by PCR. The visualization of PCR products was performed by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide and photographed under a UV light. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. CMV DNA was detected in 14/112 (12.5%), EBV DNA in 4/49 (8.16%), BKV DNA in 10/31 (32.26%) and JCV DNA in 3/31 (9.68%) RTR. These results show that CMV infection is more often present in RTR compared to other investigated viral infections. In the light of these results, molecular testing could be useful in identifying recipients at high risk of symptomatic post-transplant viral infection.