DETECTION OF HUMAN BOCAVIRUS IN CHINESE CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Human bocavirus (HBoV), a parvovirus discovered in 2005, was identified as a respiratory pathogen in a proportion of respiratory tract diseases with an unknown causative agent. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate the role of HBoV in acute lower respiratory tract infection in Chinese children. METHODS: Two hundred forty-five nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from January to December 2006 from hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection were tested for the presence of HBoV DNA by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that targeted the NP-1 gene. Bulk PCR products were subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis. Medical charts were reviewed for clinical features of HBoV infection. RESULTS: HBoV DNA was detected in 11 (4.5%) of the 245 nasopharyngeal aspirates. HBoV infection occurred year-round and peaked in winter. The age range of the children was from 48 days to 18 months. Coinfections of HBoV and respiratory syncytial virus were found in 2 (18.2%) of 11 samples. Nucleotide sequence of the NP-1 gene PCR products showed considerably high identity (99%). Clinical symptoms included cough and wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: HBoV seems to be one of the respiratory pathogens for acute respiratory tract infection in the Chongqing area, particularly in young children. Understanding of the clinical relevance of HBoV infection will require additional studies.