What type of virus is BK virus?
BKV is a non-enveloped encapsulated circular double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Polyomaviridae family which includes other polyomaviruses that have been found to infect humans namely JC virus (JVC), simian virus 40, KI virus, WU virus and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV).
What is another name for BK virus?
BK virus is also called polyomavirus.
How common is BK virus?
BK virus (BKV) is a ubiquitous polyoma virus, often acquired during childhood with a 80–90% seroprevalence rate among adults.
Where does BK virus come from?
BK virus was first isolated in 1970 from a kidney transplant recipient with a ureteric stricture. Epidemiologic studies have shown that up to 90% of some human populations become exposed to BK virus by adulthood. After kidney transplant, 10% to 60% of patients excrete the virus in their urine.
What means BK virus?
BK virus is an abbreviation of the name of the first patient whom the virus was isolated from. Usually, primary infection is occurred during childhood then the virus could be latent through life, especially in the kidneys and urinary system (1). About 60-90% of all adults have BKV antibodies in their circulation.
What is BK infection?
A BK virus (BKV) infection is a common viral infection that usually does not cause problems. The BK virus may be spread if you have contact with infected blood or body fluids, such as saliva. It can spread from one person to another during an organ transplant or from a mother to her baby during delivery.
Who gets BK virus?
BKV viremia occurs in 13% and BKV nephropathy in 8% of kidney transplant recipients (5). In a kidney transplant recipient, BKV reactivation can come from the donor or the recipient.
What is the BK virus in kidney?
Introduction. BK virus (BKV) is a common opportunistic pathogen in kidney transplant recipients and one of the most challenging causes of allograft dysfunction and loss. This virus was named after a Sudanese kidney transplant recipient with ureteric stenosis who was the first patient to have BKV isolated from the urine …
Where does BK virus live?
BK virus resides in the kidney epithelial cells. Asymptomatic reactivation resulting in BK viruria occurs in 5% of healthy adults and is usually not associated with nephropathy or hemorrhagic cystitis.
What does the BK virus cause?
The BK virus rarely causes disease but is typically associated with patients who have had a kidney transplant; many people who are infected with this virus are asymptomatic. If symptoms do appear, they tend to be mild: respiratory infection or fever. These are known as primary BK infections.
Is the BK virus contagious?
The BK virus may be spread if you have contact with infected blood or body fluids, such as saliva. It can spread from one person to another during an organ transplant or from a mother to her baby during delivery.
What is the BK virus?
The BK virus is a member of the polyomavirus family. Past infection with the BK virus is widespread, but significant consequences of infection are uncommon, with the exception of the immunocompromised and the immunosuppressed. BK virus is an abbreviation of the name of the first patient whom the virus was isolated from in 1971.
What is a primary BK infection?
These are known as primary BK infections. Although without any clinical symptoms, footprints of BK virus have been detected in specimens from females affected by spontaneous abortion. Serum antibodies against BK virus have also been found in spontaneous abortion affected women as well as in women who underwent voluntary interruption of pregnancy.
Is there a treatment for BK virus infection?
BK virus infection: an update on diagnosis and treatment BK virus, first isolated in 1971, is a significant risk factor for renal transplant dysfunction and allograft loss. Unfortunately, treatment options for BK virus infection are limited, and there is no effective prophylaxis.
Can a BK virus infection lead to legal action?
Failure to comply may result in legal action. A BK virus (BKV) infection is a common viral infection that usually does not cause problems. The BK virus may be spread if you have contact with infected blood or body fluids, such as saliva (spit).