Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Medical Virology
Polyoma viruses associated with demyelinating disease in South Africa
JC virus (JCV) is a human polyomavirus that causes a fatal central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease termed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in immunocompromised individuals. In the past, PML was uncommon and occurred mainly I older patients or those receiving immunosuppressive agents. Thedisease became more common with the spread of HIV infection and at one stage PML affected approximately 5% of AIDS patients, but declined with the institution of highly active antiretroviral therapy in developed countries. The significance of PML in countries currently worst affected by the AIDS epidemic has yet to be determined. Dispite sthe high incidence of HIV in south Africla only a small number of cases have been reported so far. We suspect that few PML cases are being tested for JCV since it may be confues with HIV encephalopathy. Recently the Special Pathogens Unit at the national Institute for Communicable diseases identified an as yet undescribed polyomavirus, named Mazoe virus that appeared to have caused demyelation in an otherwise healthy child. We aim to establish a quick molecular diagnostic test that will identify both JC virus and Mazoe virus, inform neurologists about the availability of such a test at our department, and screen specimens from patients with suspected PML for both JC virus and the new virus to determine the incidence and epidemiology of these infections in South Africa.
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