JC virus (JCV) is ubiquitous in the human population. Primary infection normallyoccurs during childhood and is followed by a lifelong persistent infection. The mainmode of transmission remains unknown. Several authors have hypothesized that JCVtransmission occurs through the respiratory route, and that respiratory secretionscould represent a possible source of viral particles. The present study intended toevaluate oropharyngeal fluids from patients infected with JCV, in order to ascertainif respiratory secretions could indeed constitute a source of exposure to thispolyomavirus. Oropharyngeal washing samples from 25 patients co-infected with JCV andhuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 were evaluated for the presence of JCV DNA.Regardless of the titre of antibodies or the presence of viral urinary excretion, JCVgenome was not detected in oropharyngeal samples collected from any of the patientsinfected with JCV included in this study, which may suggest that oropharyngeal fluidsare an unlikely source for JCV infection.
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