Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy triggered by COVID-19 in a previously asymptomatic person living with undiagnosed HIV infection.

This report presents the case of a 47-year-old male patient who worked as a mathematics teacher and experienced the sudden onset of disorientation, aphasia, and acalculia during an online class. The current study reveals the first documented case of HIV and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and human polyomavirus 2 (previously known as John Cunningham virus) in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, serum analysis revealed elevated concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-8, which are potential factors known to reduce the expression of tight junctions and adhesion molecules in the extracellular matrix, thereby affecting the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Finally, the study discusses whether SARS-CoV-2 triggers or exacerbates progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Detection of Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2) in oyster samples in northern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water. A lack of basic sanitation and sewage collection results in the presence of this virus in food, especially in oysters, since they are bioaccumulators and are consumed in their natural form, thus posing a risk to human health. METHODS: This study investigated the frequency of HPyV2 in samples of oysters marketed in northeastern Pará State, Brazil, and optimized a real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol for the detection of an endogenous oyster control. A total of 217 oysters in 22 pools from five municipalities in the state of Pará were analyzed. Samples underwent dissection and total maceration of oyster tissue using a viral concentration technique, followed by DNA extraction with phenol-chloroform and amplification of the VP1 region for molecular detection via qPCR. RESULTS: HPyV2 was detected in 18.2% (4/22) of the pooled samples, with frequencies of 25, 20, 20 and 16% in the municipalities of Salinópolis, Augusto Corrêa, São Caetano de Odivelas and Curuçá, respectively. Notably, the sample pool from the municipality of Bragança did not have detectable HPyV2 and this was the only sampled location with a water treatment station. In this study, Crassostrea genus-specific primers (AFL52 ribosomal RNA gene) of oyster were developed for use as an endogenous control in the qPCR analysis, which will be useful for future studies. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of HPyV2 in oyster samples commercialized in the state of Pará shows the circulation of this virus in the studied municipalities. Thus, it is necessary to implement measures for improving sewage collection and basic sanitation to avoid contamination of water and food with HPyV2.