A human Polyomavirus.
A nonenveloped DNA virus and.
Causes a lytic infection of oligodendrocytes in the CNS resulting in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy a demyelinating disease.
Primary infection in childhood is asymptomatic.
Antibodies detectable in 50-70% of adult population.
Up to 64% of healthy adults shed virus in urine without clinical symptoms, suggesting it is a common asymptomatic infection in immune competent people.
After the primary infection the virus resides in the kidneys and eventually delivered presumably by B cells to the oligodendrocytes.
Genotype 2 associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.