Human bocavirus-1 screening in infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection

Abstract

Background Recent studies have reported associations between, human bocavirus (HBoV), and respiratory tract diseases in children. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology of HBoV in infants. This prospective study investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of HBoV infection in infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in eastern China. Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirates and throat swab samples were collected from infants with ALRTI and age-matched healthy infants between January 2016 and December 2019. HBoV was identified by polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory data and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results Of 2510 infants, 145 tested positive for HBoV. The highest prevalence of HBoV was detected during the winter. Co-infection was frequently observed during this period of high viral transmission. There were no HBoV-positive infants in the control group. Clinical signs and symptoms included cough, wheezing, fever, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhea, hypoxemia, and tachypnea. Co-infections included: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus. Conclusions HBoV was frequently detected in infants with ALRTI in China. The prevalence of HBoV was highest in winter. Co-infection was common, especially in infants requiring intensive care unit admission. Comprehensive clinical evaluation may facilitate optimal treatment.

Diagnosis and clinical significance of Human bocavirus 1 in children hospitalized for lower acute respiratory infection: molecular detection in respiratory secretions and serum

“…It is worth noting that the analysis of HBoV1 infection regarding severity of illness revealed a higher frequency of the virus in our ICU group than among patients on standard care (Table 6), even with a higher proportion of late clinical samples and without apparent involvement of high viral loads, but with a higher frequency of co-detection. Similar results have been published in a recent prospective report [63] .…”

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus infection in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infection in Qingdao, China

“…This suggests that children ≥5 years old should be considered a priority study group, since this group has relatively higher immunity than children under 2 years old, which might help identify more risk factors for HBoV1 infection in different immune populations. In patients with HBoV infection, respiratory symptoms, such as cough, rales, or wheezing, remain the most common symptoms, which are consistent with previous reports (Ji et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). In HBoV-positive patients, AST, LDH, URE, CK-MB, and Mg levels were significantly different from those in HBoV-negative patients.…”

“…S. pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen detected in the study population. The infection rate reached 35.7%, which is higher than the detection rate of 13.33% for S. pneumoniae in infants presenting with ARIs in Ningbo reported by Zhang et al (2021) and the detection rate of 29.9% for S. pneumoniae in the Chinese ARIs Child Surveillance Study for the period 2009-2019 (Li et al, 2021c). The detection rate of S. pneumonia has always been at the forefront of ARIs in children around the world, regardless of the differences in detection rates (Simusika et al, 2015;Wei et al, 2015;Li et al, 2021c).…”

Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review

“…HBoV infection is described as affecting the lower respiratory tract predominantly [ 3 , 6 , 10 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. HBoV infections have been detected in children with acute diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, often combined with interstitial lung infiltrate and abnormal radiologic findings.…”

“…HBoV infections have been detected in children with acute diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, often combined with interstitial lung infiltrate and abnormal radiologic findings. Respiratory manifestations, particularly cough, stuffy and runny nose, pharyngeal hyperemia, wheezing, tachypnea, shortness of breath, hypoxia, cyanosis, and chest retractions are the most reported signs or symptoms [ 1 , 6 , 10 , 59 ]. Clinical diagnoses include pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, laryngeal croup, and, more rarely, conjunctivitis.…”