title: High incidence of human bocavirus infection in children in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The newly identified human bocavirus (HBoV), a member of the Parvoviridae family, has been associated to low respiratory tract infections in young children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the epidemiological profile and the main clinical characteristics showed by children infected with this virus in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied the incidence of HBoV and other 15 respiratory viruses in 917 nasopharyngeal aspirates taken from 730 infants and children under age of 14 with acute lower respiratory tract infection from September-04 to August-06.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBoV was detected in 123 samples (13.4%) showing a seasonal distribution with November and December as the peak months. Out of the 558 samples which rendered a positive result for at least one of the virus tested, HBoV (22%) ranked fourth behind respiratory syncytial virus (181, 32%), adenoviruses (155, 28%) and rhinoviruses (136, 24%). Co-infections with HBoV and other respiratory viruses were detected in 74 out of 123 HBoV-positive specimens (60%). In addition, HBoV was also found in stool and, for the first time, in urine samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results obtained provide further evidence that HBoV is involved in acute lower respiratory tract infections. HBoV-associated disease should not be limited to the respiratory tract.
authors: Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain. pacopozo@isciii.es
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Pozo
authors: Mari Luz
authors: ML
authors: García-García
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Calvo
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Cuesta
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Pérez-Breña
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Casas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D052660:Bocavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology