Prognosis of isolated seizures in adult life.

Abstract

After 28 days urine cultures showed cytopathic changes characterised by cytoplasmic vacuolisation.Electron microscopy of the supernatant showed icosahedral virus particles with a diameter of about 45 nm.Supernatants from the urine cultures agglutinated human type 0 erythrocytes and the agglutination could be inhibited by a specific anti-BK virus serum.No cytopathic effect was observed in control cells and throat swab cultures.Seroconversion against BK virus between the third and 14th day of the disease (haemagglutination inhibiting antibody titres 1:8-1:256) was shown.Similar titres were obtained when the patient's virus was used as the antigen.No appreciable rises in antibodies to adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus types A and B, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci were observed as measured by the complement fixation test.Analysis of the viral DNA by cleavage with several restriction endonucleases showed a pattern compatible with BK virus-like human papovaviruses. CommentThis report describes seroconversion against BK virus and subse- quent isolation of virus from the urine of a child with acute tonsillitis.The child's humoral and cellular immunity was not impaired and no immunosuppressive treatment was given.Our findings should encourage further attempts to isolate BK virus from patients with acute respiratory disease.