Abstract

The hypothesis was examined that physiologic variation of estrogen concentrations during the menstrual cycle can provoke BK virus (BKV) excretion. BKV and JCV viral loads were determined in urine specimens obtained almost daily from 20 healthy, non-pregnant women over 2 months. Asymptomatic urinary shedding of BKV was observed in 123 (12.0%) of 1,021 specimens from 11 (55%) study subjects. Two subjects excreted JCV in their urine, with one subject excreting detectable JCV in all urine specimens. Analysis of 36 complete menstrual cycles revealed no difference in the prevalence of BKV excretion between pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle. The unexpected day-to-day variability in BKV excretion suggests that as yet unidentified factors may contribute to the periodic shedding of BKV by healthy women.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Kling CL, Wright AT, Katz SE, McClure GB, Gardner JS, Williams JT, Meinerz NM, Garcea RL, Vanchiere JA

Institution

School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.

Source

Journal of medical virology 84:9 2012 Sep pg 1459-63

MeSH

Adult
Antibodies, Viral
Asymptomatic Infections
BK Virus
Female
Humans
JC Virus
Menstrual Cycle
Polyomavirus Infections
Tumor Virus Infections
Viral Load
Virus Replication
Virus Shedding
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22825825