Vol. 90 No. 2 (2026), Artículos originales
Vol. 90 No. 2 (2026)

Cytology and the cytopathic effect of polyomavirus in a pediatric urine specimen: A case report.

Artículos originales
Published 2026-04-28
Cintia Giménez
1Laboratorio de Citología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fernando Guerra
1Laboratorio de Citología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Adriana Rocher
1Laboratorio de Citología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gabriela Mendeluk
1Laboratorio de Citología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Revista Bioquímica y Patología Clínica (ByPC) 
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Keywords

Polyoma
Cytology
urine sample
giemsa
papanicolaou
cytopathic effect

How to Cite

Cytology and the cytopathic effect of polyomavirus in a pediatric urine specimen: A case report. (2026). Biochemistry and Clinical Pathology Journal, 90(2), 45-49. https://doi.org/10.62073/yrkraw14
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Abstract

Introduction: The polyomavirus is known to cause primary infection at an early age, as well as to cause symptoms in immunocompromised patients. Adult transplant patients, due to their immunosuppressive treatment, may experience reactivation of various pathogens, including the polyomavirus, while in pediatric patients, the symptoms are usually similar to those of a passing flu. Aim: The aim of this study is to present a clinical case of polyoma detection from the cytological analysis of a urine sample, which serves as a guide for the visualization of cells in an emergency laboratory in a comparative manner of fresh preparations stained with Giemsa and Papanicolaou. Case report: A 3-year-and-9-month-old boy presented to the pediatrics department for a growth checkup. From a biochemical point of view, blood count, liver function tests, and chemistry results were normal, and the urine test strip showed no abnormalities except for two crosses for proteins. The sediment was observed fresh, revealing a great number of isolated cells with enlarged nuclei. Staining with Giemsa and Papanicolaou allowed observing the presence of cells infected with the polyoma virus. Conclusion: The results of the urine test strip did not raise any alarm; however, when viewed under a microscope by an experienced observer, suspicious cells were found that were identified as a primary infection of Polyomavirus. The images reported in this study may be useful in similar cases, especially in immunosuppressed patients, to avoid confusion and achieve a differential diagnosis with inflammatory or neoplastic changes.

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