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High incidence of human bocavirus infection in children in Spain

Francisco Pozo1, Mari Luz García-García, Cristina Calvo

  • 1Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain. pacopozo@isciii.es

Journal of Clinical Virology : the Official Publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
|October 2, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children. This study found HBoV in 13.4% of cases, often co-infecting with other viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Human bocavirus (HBoV), a Parvoviridae family member, is linked to pediatric lower respiratory tract infections.
  • HBoV is a newly identified virus requiring further epidemiological and clinical characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the epidemiological profile of HBoV in Spain.
  • To describe the clinical characteristics of HBoV-infected children.
  • To investigate the incidence of HBoV alongside other respiratory viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 917 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children under 14 with acute lower respiratory tract infection (Sept 2004 - Aug 2006).
  • Detection of HBoV and 15 other respiratory viruses using molecular methods.
  • Comparison of HBoV incidence with other common respiratory pathogens.

Main Results:

  • HBoV was detected in 13.4% of samples, with peak incidence in November and December.
  • HBoV ranked fourth in prevalence (22%) among detected viruses, following RSV, adenoviruses, and rhinoviruses.
  • HBoV frequently co-infected with other respiratory viruses (60%) and was also detected in stool and urine samples.

Conclusions:

  • HBoV is a significant contributor to acute lower respiratory tract infections in children.
  • HBoV-associated disease may extend beyond the respiratory system, as indicated by detection in stool and urine.
Abstract

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