Human bocavirus infections are common in Beijing population indicated by sero-antibody prevalence analysis.
BACKGROUND
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a newly identified human parvovirus that was originally detected in the respiratory secretions of children with respiratory infections. This study aimed to learn about the importance of HBoV infections by revealing the prevalence of serum antibodies against HBoV in Beijing population.


METHODS
Two batches of serum specimens collected in different periods were tested by Western blotting for specific IgG against HBoV using recombinant VP2 as antigen.


RESULTS
Out of 677 serum specimens collected during April 1996 to March 1997, 400 (59.1%) were positive and antibody positive rate for another batch of 141 serum specimens collected in August, 2005 from adults aged from 20 years to over 60 years was 78.7% (111/141). Comparison of the sero-prevalence profiles for serum specimens collected during 1996 - 1997 to those collected in 2005 indicated that the antibody positive rate for specimens collected in 2005 was higher than that of the corresponding age groups collected during 1996 - 1997.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that HBoV has been circulating in Beijing population for at least over 10 years, and most of children had been exposed to HBoV by age of 7 years. Higher HBoV antibody positive rate shown in the serum specimens collected in 2005 suggested that infections by HBoV have been increased in Beijing population in recent years.
Zhao
Lin-qing
LQ
Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Qian
Yuan
Y
Zhu
Ru-nan
RN
Deng
Jie
J
Wang
Fang
F
Dong
Hui-jin
HJ
Sun
Yu
Y
Li
Yan
Y
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D052660:Bocavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014764:Viral Proteins