Epidemiology of polyomavirus BK (BKV) and the emergent African variant in kidney and bone marrow transplant recipients in the Fundacion Valle del Lili in Cali, Colombia

Abstract To describe the epidemiology of BKV and to assess the presence of the African variant in bone marrow and kidney transplant patients who have suspected BKV reactivation. A descriptive study was conducted, using institutional records, at the Fundacion Valle del Lili, Cali-Colombia. The overall prevalence of BKV during the study period was 51%. The African variant was identified in 49.4% of samples that were positive for BKV. 50.6% of the samples were found to have the wild strain of BKV. Among BKV positive patients, 57% were kidney transplant recipients and 43% were bone marrow transplant recipients. This is the first epidemiological study describing the African variant of BKV in Colombia.