Human Bocavirus 1 Infection: Clinical Cases

Abstract

Human Bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a parvovirus associated with acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). This study describes the clinical picture of HBoV1 infection at high viral load in infants without coinfections or comorbidities. Patients less than 5 years old admitted for LRTI at the Children's Hospital of Cordoba, Argentina, were prospectively screened for HBoV1 by PCR. HBoV1 genome load in respiratory secretion was determined by qPCR and clinical and epidemiological data were collected in ad-hoc forms. We identified 7 patients with HBoV1 infection with clinical specimens collected within 24 h of admission, high viral load, no codetection, no comorbidity and complete medical records. Other than the age (6 patients were ≤6 months) no outstanding risk factors were recognized. Wheezing and hypoxemia were present together in the majority of the patients (6/7, 86%). Lung infiltrates confirmed pneumonia in 5/7 (71%) patients. The average hospital stay was 5.9±3.0 days; none died and no additional complications were registered at discharged. Compared to RSV, the clinical picture showed differences only respect to days of oxygen therapy (p=0.0004) and hospital stay (p=0.036). Consequently, when other pathogens have been ruled out, testing HBoV1 in infants hospitalized with LRTI can contribute to improve patient care.