BK virus genotype distribution offers information of tracing the geographical origins of unidentified cadaver

There are no efficient methods to determine the geographic origin of unidentified cadavers. We showed earlier that the geographical distribution of the JC virus genotype detected from human kidneys indicates the host's geographical origin. As there are still cadavers from which we cannot detect the JC virus (JCV), we investigated whether the genotype of another virus species belonging to the same family, human BK virus (BKV), could also be used to detect human geographical origin. BKV was found in 11 of 36 cases (30.5%). Even in the seven JCV-negative cases, the host's geographic origin could be estimated from the BKV genotype. Four subjects were positive for both the BKV and JCV. As the distribution areas of BKV and JCV genotypes are not identical, it is possible to narrow down the geographic area that any cadaver originates from.