Chapter 24.5, Problem 19ELO

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The epidemiology and pathology of human polyomaviruses.

Introduction:

In the mid-1950s, the search for a leukemia agent in mice led to the discovery of a new virus that was capable of causing many types of tumors. It was thus named polyomavirus. JC virus and BK virus are the two most important types of polyomaviruses. Infections by JC virus and BK virus are common across the globe. Most infections are asymptomatic and urine and respiratory secretions are believed to be the mode of transmission.