BK virus DNA in CSF of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

AIM To investigate the possible aetiological role of BK and JC viruses in immunocompetent and immunocompromised children with suspected encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. METHODS The polymerase chain reaction and microplate hybridisation method was employed for the detection of polyomavirus DNA in 266 CSF specimens collected from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. RESULTS BK virus DNA was detected in three (2.1%) CSF samples taken from patients aged 2-5 years; two were patients with acute lymphocytic leukaemia without overt neurological symptoms, the other was a patient with suspected encephalitis. BK virus DNA was also detected in two (1.6%) CSF samples taken from older children in the age range 10-16 years; both children had suspected encephalitis. JC virus DNA was not found in any CSF sample from either age group. CONCLUSIONS Detection of BK virus in the CSF of immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with suspected neurological disease suggests that this virus may have had a pathogenic role in the aetiology of this condition.