Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
09:02

Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions

Published on: September 22, 2023

Prevalence and clinical aspects of human bocavirus infection in children

L Karalar1, J Lindner, S Schimanski

  • 1Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|August 18, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is linked to respiratory and gastric illnesses in children. This study found HBoV DNA in children with respiratory issues and gastroenteritis, with high seroprevalence in young populations.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human bocavirus (HBoV), a Parvoviridae family member, has been implicated in pediatric diseases.
  • Previous research suggested a potential association between HBoV and respiratory and gastric conditions in infants and young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical association of acute HBoV infection with respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in hospitalized children.
  • To determine the seroprevalence of HBoV-specific antibodies in a pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 357 pediatric patient sera using quantitative PCR for HBoV DNA detection.
  • ELISA was employed to detect HBoV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies.
  • Patients were grouped based on infectious and non-infectious diseases, including respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis.

Main Results:

  • HBoV DNA was detected in 6.7% of sera from children with infectious diseases and 5% from those with non-infectious illnesses.
  • HBoV DNA was most prevalent in patients with respiratory disease (9.6%), particularly lower respiratory tract illness (14.6%) and pneumonia (10.0%).
  • Acute HBoV infections were observed in 7.5% of patients with gastroenteritis, and HBoV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were found in 60.9% and 47.8% of DNA-positive children, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides comprehensive data supporting the clinical association of acute HBoV infection with respiratory illness in children.
  • High seroprevalence rates indicate widespread HBoV exposure in the pediatric population.
  • HBoV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in children.

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features01:20

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...