KI and WU Polyomavirus in Respiratory Samples of SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients

• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061259
• Publication Date: 2021-06-09T18:16:04Z
• Authors: Carla Prezioso; Ugo Moens; Giuseppe Oliveto; Gabriele Brazzini; Francesca Piacentini; Federica Frasca; Agnese Viscido; Mirko Scordio; Giuliana Guerrizio; Donatella Maria R...; Alessandra Pieran...; Gabriella d’Ettorre; Ombretta Turriziani; Guido Antonelli; Carolina Scagnolari; Valeria Pietropaolo
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; NCCR sequencing; Washington University polyomavirus; Karolinska Institutet polyomavirus; SARS-CoV-2; QH301-705.5; Communication; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Basale medisinske, odontologiske og veterinærmedisinske fag: 710; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Basic medical, dental and veterinary science disciplines: 710; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; co-infection; oropharyngeal swab; Biology (General); co‐infection; karolinska institutet polyomavirus; nccr sequencing; oropharyngeal swab; sars‐cov‐2; washington university polyomavirus

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared a global pandemic. Our goal was to determine whether co-infections with respiratory polyomaviruses, such as Karolinska Institutet polyomavirus (KIPyV) and Washington University polyomavirus (WUPyV) occur in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Oropharyngeal swabs from 150 individuals, 112 symptomatic COVID-19 patients and 38 healthcare workers not infected by SARS-CoV-2, were collected from March 2020 through May 2020 and tested for KIPyV and WUPyV DNA presence. Of the 112 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, 27 (24.1%) were co-infected with KIPyV, 5 (4.5%) were positive for WUPyV, and 3 (2.7%) were infected simultaneously by KIPyV and WUPyV. Neither KIPyV nor WUPyV DNA was detected in samples of healthcare workers. Significant correlations were found in patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and KIPyV (p < 0.05) and between SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values and KIPyV, WUPyV and KIPyV and WUPyV concurrently detected (p < 0.05). These results suggest that KIPyV and WUPyV may behave as opportunistic respiratory pathogens. Additional investigations are needed to understand the epidemiology and the prevalence of respiratory polyomavirus in COVID-19 patients and whether KIPyV and WUPyV could potentially drive viral interference or influence disease outcomes by upregulating SARS-CoV-2 replicative potential.