Occurence of JC Virus in Europe

Epub: Olsson et al. Anti-JC virus antibody prevalence in a multinational multiple sclerosis cohort. Mult Scler. 2013 Mar.

Background: JC virus (JCV) is an opportunistic virus known to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. 

Objective: Anti-JC virus (Anti-JCV) antibody prevalence in a large, geographically diverse, multi-national multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort was compared in a cross-sectional study. 

ResultsOverall, anti-JCV antibody prevalence was 57.6%. Anti-JCV antibody prevalence in MS patients ranged from approximately 47% to 68% across these countries: Norway, 47.4%; Denmark, 52.6%; Israel, 56.6%; France, 57.6%; Italy, 58.3%; Sweden, 59.0%; Germany, 59.1%; Austria, 66.7% and Turkey, 67.7%. Prevalence increased with age (from 49.5% in patients < 30 years of age to 66.5% in patients ≥ 60 years of age; p < 0.0001 comparing all age categories), was lower in females than in males (55.8% versus 61.9%; p < 0.0001) and was not affected by prior immunosuppressant or natalizumab use.


This study reports on the prevalence of  JC virus infection; as you can see it is quite common. 

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