Identification of a novel polyomavirus in a pancreatic transplant recipient with retinal blindness and vasculitic myopathy.

BACKGROUND A 33 year-old pancreatic transplant recipient developed weakness, retinal blindness, and necrotic plaques on her face, scalp, and hands. METHODS A muscle biopsy was analyzed by light and electron microscopy and high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing. RESULTS The biopsy revealed microthrombosis and viral particles in swollen endothelial cell nuclei. High-throughput sequencing of nucleic acid revealed a novel polyomavirus. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of the polyomavirus in endothelial cells at sites of myositis and cutaneous necrosis. CONCLUSIONS New Jersey polyomavirus (NJPyV-2013) is a novel polyomavirus that may have tropism for vascular endothelial cells.