Clinical assessment and improved diagnosis of bocavirus-induced wheezing in children, Finland.
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a widespread respiratory virus. To improve diagnostic methods, we conducted immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM enzyme immunoassays with recombinant virus-like particles of HBoV as antigen. Acute-phase and follow-up serum samples from 258 wheezing children and single serum samples from 115 healthy adults in Finland were examined. Our assays had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99.5%. Of adults, 96% had immunity; none had an acute infection. Of 48 children with serologically diagnosed acute HBoV infections, 45 were viremic and 35 had virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs). Of 39 HBoV NPA PCR-positive children co-infected with another virus, 64% had a serologically verified HBoV infection. HBoV caused illness of longer duration than rhinovirus and of equal severity to that of respiratory syncytial virus. Among children with bronchiolitis, >25% had acute HBoV infections. Accurate HBoV diagnosis requires serologic analysis or PCR of serum; PCR of NPAs alone is insufficient.
Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. maria.soderlund-venermo@helsinki.fi
Maria
M
Söderlund-Venermo
Anne
A
Lahtinen
Tuomas
T
Jartti
Lea
L
Hedman
Kaisa
K
Kemppainen
Pasi
P
Lehtinen
Tobias
T
Allander
Olli
O
Ruuskanen
Klaus
K
Hedman
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D056661:Human bocavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011994:Recombinant Proteins