Clinical and molecular epidemiology of human bocavirus in respiratory and fecal samples from children in Hong Kong.
BACKGROUND
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a recently discovered parvovirus associated with respiratory tract infections in children. We conducted the first systematic prospective clinical and molecular study using nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) and fecal samples.


METHODS
NPAs negative for influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and coronavirus and fecal samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis were included. On the basis of results from a pilot study using 400 NPAs from all age groups, a prospective 12-month study was conducted to detect HBoV in 1,200 NPAs and 1,435 fecal samples from patients <18 years old by polymerase chain reaction. The complete genome sequences of HBoVs from 12 NPAs and 12 fecal samples were determined.


RESULTS
Of the 400 NPAs collected in the pilot study, 20 (5.0%) were found to contain HBoV, all from children <5 years old. In the subsequent prospective study of pediatric patients, HBoV was detected in 83 (6.9%) of 1,200 NPAs. Upper and lower respiratory tract infections were equally common. HBoV was detected in 30 (2.1%) of 1,435 fecal samples. Fever and watery diarrhea were the most common symptoms. The seasonality of HBoV in NPAs and fecal samples was similar. Codetection with other pathogens occurred in 33% and 56% of NPAs and fecal samples, respectively, from patients with HBoV infection. Genomes of HBoVs from NPAs and fecal samples displayed minimal sequence variations.


CONCLUSIONS
HBoV was detected in fecal specimens in children with acute gastroenteritis. A single lineage of HBoV was associated with both respiratory tract and enteric infections.
Lau
Susanna K P
SK
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yip
Cyril C Y
CC
Que
Tak-Lun
TL
Lee
Rodney A
RA
Au-Yeung
Rex K H
RK
Zhou
Boping
B
So
Lok-Yee
LY
Lau
Yu-Lung
YL
Chan
Kwok-Hung
KH
Woo
Patrick C Y
PC
Yuen
Kwok-Yung
KY
D000208:Acute Disease; D052660:Bocavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004279:DNA, Viral