Human bocavirus: prevalence and clinical spectrum at a children's hospital.
BACKGROUND
Molecular methods of pathogen discovery have recently led to the description of several new respiratory viruses. Human bocavirus (HBoV), a proposed member of the family Parvoviridae, is one of the most recently described respiratory viruses. Initial reports indicate that HBoV is a common cause of respiratory tract infection in children.


METHODS
A total of 1474 nasal scraping specimens collected over a 20-month period were screened by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of HBoV nucleic acid. Positive results were confirmed with a second polymerase chain reaction assay from a different genomic region. The medical records of patients with positive results were reviewed for demographic and clinical data.


RESULTS
HBoV DNA was identified in 82 samples (5.6%). The peak rate of HBoV infection occurred during the period of March through May in both 2004 and 2005. Sixty-three percent of infected patients were <12 months of age. The most common symptoms were cough, rhinorrhea, and fever. Other symptoms of interest included diarrhea and a "paroxysmal" cough that was clinically suspected to be caused by Bordetella pertussis.


CONCLUSIONS
HBoV DNA is commonly present in children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The presence of a pertussis-like cough and diarrhea in association with HBoV infection merits further investigation.
Arnold
John C
JC
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for AIDS Research, University of California, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. jcarnold@ucsd.edu
Singh
Kumud K
KK
Spector
Stephen A
SA
Sawyer
Mark H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009666:Nose; D010321:Parvoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies