Although acute gastroenteritis is a major public health problem worldwide, ∼40% of the cases remain undiagnosed for any etiological agent. Human Bocavirus (HBoV) has been detected frequently in feces of diarrhoeic children suggesting its possible etiological involvement in the disease. HBoV has not been reported in association with acute gastroenteritis from India. Fecal samples (n = 418) collected from children (age ≤5 years) hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis, between January 2009 and December 2011, from three local hospitals were examined for presence of HBoV using PCR targeting the partial VP1/VP2 capsid region (∼575 bp) followed by phylogenetic analysis. HBoV was detected in 24/418 (5.7%) cases. Co-infection was observed in 5/24 (21%) cases. HBoV infections occurred in children ≤12 months of age. Peak HBoV activity was observed in monsoon and post monsoon season. All four HBoV genotypes were detected in the study region. Major clinical symptoms of HBoV mono infections included diarrhoea (100%), fever (90%), dehydration (74%), and vomiting (58%). Dehydration was observed in all of the HBoV2-4 cases and in 50% of the HBoV1 cases. Clinical severity varied with genotype (HBoV2 > HBoV1 > HBoV3 > HBoV4). HBoV2 cases recorded severe and very severe infections. The study illustrates prevalence and vast genetic diversity of HBoVs in acute gastroenteritis. It highlights the clinical features of HBoV1-4 infections and sheds light on clinical impact of HBoV genotypes in gastroenteritis. J. Med. Virol. 89:17-23, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SUMMARYSapoviruses (SaVs) are responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. Despite this, few studies in India have focused on the epidemiological investigation of SaV in cases of acute gastroenteritis. The aim of this study was to understand the molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity and clinical impact of SaV in diarrhoeic children from Pune, Western India. Between 2007 and 2011, a total of 985 faecal samples from diarrhoeic cases and non-diarrhoeic controls were collected and examined for the presence of SaV by nested RT–PCR. SaV was detected in 2·7% (21/778) of the cases and 1·9% (4/207) of the controls. We observed that the majority of SaV mono-infections caused severe gastroenteritis (67%) with clinical manifestations of diarrhoea (100%), vomiting (73%) and dehydration (80%). All known human SaV genogroups were detected in the study. At least eight genotypes were identified from cases and controls. Genogroups GIV and GV, along with genotypes GI.5, GII.4 and GII.6, were discovered for the first time in India. Two GII.4 study strains were found to be 98·5–99% identical, having a novel intra-genogroup recombinant (GII.1/GII.4) recently reported from the Philippines, suggesting probable evidence of recombination. The circulation pattern of SaV genotypes varied during the study period, with GII.1 being predominant in 2007 and 2009, GIV.1 in 2008, and GV.1 in 2011.

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Human bocavirus (HBoV) has been frequently associated with acute gastroenteritis. A 5‐year retrospective study was undertaken to understand the circulation pattern and genotype distribution of HBoV in acute gastroenteritis cases in Pune, Western India. A total of 985 stool samples collected from sporadic acute gastroenteritis cases and asymptomatic controls (2007‐2011) from children (≤5 years) were examined for the presence of HBoV. HBoV1 was detected throughout the study period while HBoV2 during 2007‐2010, HBoV3 in 2007‐2009 and in 2011, and HBoV4 in 2009 and 2011. Interestingly, HBoV2 was observed to be predominant in 2007 while HBoV1 and HBoV2 were detected at an equal frequency in the year 2008. HBoV1 was predominant from 2009 onwards. The present study highlights the changing pattern of genotypic circulation, emergence, and re‐emergence of HBoV variants in acute gastroenteritis cases over a 5‐year study period in Western India. The severity of gastroenteritis is reported to vary with HBoV genotypes. Thus, the present study emphasizes the need for routine HBoV surveillance in acute gastroenteritis cases from other parts of the country. This data will be valuable in the current scenario because implementation of rotavirus vaccination has led to the rising of other enteric viruses associated with the disease.

Background: Immature Platelet Fraction (IPF) is an index of thrombopoiesis which quantitates reticulated platelets that have been recently released from the bone marrow.Objectives: To find out the association between the status of immature platelet fraction (IPF) and the recovery of platelets in patients with dengue.Methods & Materials: A prospective study was designed done to find out the association between the status of immature platelet fraction (IPF) and the recovery of platelets in 45 Dengue confirmed (positive NS1 or IgM antibody dengue test) cases whose platelet count was less than one lakh/cumm with or without a downward trend. Platelet count and IPF were estimated using Sysmex XE-2100 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan). Complete blood count was recorded simultaneously and peripheral smears were studied in all these cases with a note for the presence of large platelets on smear. The cases were managed conservatively. The work was carried out after an approval from Institutional ethics committee. Data was analysed statistically.Results: Among the recovery of platelets, 86.4% showed recovery within 24hrs and the rest with 48 hrs after attaining peak IPF value. A single value IPF more than 10% was indicative of platelet recovery within 24-48 Hours. A positive correlation was observed among immature platelet fraction (IPF) level and the recovery of platelets in those patients with dengue.Conclusion: IPF had a positive correlation with recovery of platelet counts in patients with dengue infections. Hence, Practitioners handling Dengue cases may be oriented to look for IPF, and consider it before referral or active intervention.