Human bocavirus 1 epidemiology in children in relation to virus load and codetection

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a known cause of respiratory tract infections in children.
• Understanding the clinical significance of HBoV1, particularly in relation to viral load, is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe patient characteristics, seasonality, comorbidities, viral co-detections, clinical manifestations, and complications of HBoV1 infection.
• To elucidate the clinical significance of HBoV1 by analyzing its relationship with viral load in hospitalized children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of hospitalized children (0-17 years) with HBoV1-positive nasopharyngeal aspirates from July 2008 to June 2019.
• Analysis of HBoV1 single detection and high viral load (HBoV1-DNA cycle threshold [Ct] < 25) subgroups.
• Information on pre-existing conditions and clinical course was extracted from medical records.

Main Results:

• 768 HBoV1 episodes were identified in 727 children; 64.6% were male, and 60.7% were previously healthy.
• Most infections (62.0%) occurred between December and March; HBoV1 was co-detected with other viruses in 71.5% of cases.
• High viral load (Ct < 25) was associated with younger age, single HBoV1 detection, and early-season presentation, with minimal differences in clinical manifestations between subgroups.

Conclusions:

• HBoV1 infection is associated with mild-to-severe respiratory manifestations in young children.
• The study highlights the clinical significance of HBoV1, especially in relation to viral load and patient demographics.