Detection and quantification of human bocavirus in river water.
Human bocavirus (HBoV) was recently discovered in children with respiratory-tract infection and has been detected frequently in faecal specimens from children with gastroenteritis. The present study addresses for the first time, to our knowledge, the prevalence of HBoV in river water. By using a newly developed real-time PCR targeting a conserved region of the NP1 gene of HBoV, virus levels in water samples were determined. Moreover, partial sequence analysis of the NP1 gene of HBoV and comparative phylogenetic analysis were performed. HBoV was detected in 40.8 % of collected water samples. The virus level ranged between 3x10(1) and 2x10(3) genome equivalents l(-1). Therefore, the present study suggests that river water could play a role in the spread of HBoV. However, further work should be done to determine the actual risk of infection via surface water.
Hamza
Ibrahim Ahmed
IA
Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Jurzik
Lars
L
Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Wilhelm
Michael
M
Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Überla
Klaus
K
Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
D052660:Bocavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D045483:Rivers; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins