Frequent Detection of Bocavirus in Children with Respiratory Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Benedikt Weissbrich, Florian Neske, Jörg Schubert, Franz Tollmann, Katharina Blath, Kerstin Blessing, Hans Wolfgang Kreth
Primary Institution: University of Würzburg
Hypothesis
What is the frequency and potential clinical relevance of human bocavirus (hBoV) in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections?
Conclusion
HBoV is frequently found in nasopharyngeal aspirates of hospitalized infants and children with acute respiratory tract diseases, but its clinical relevance remains unproven due to high rates of coinfections.
Supporting Evidence
- HBoV DNA was found in 87 (10.3%) of the NPAs tested.
- Coinfections were found in 34 (39.1%) of the hBoV positive samples.
- The median age of infants and children with hBoV infection was 1.8 years.
Takeaway
Doctors found a virus called bocavirus in many sick children, but they aren't sure if it really makes them sick because it often shows up with other viruses.
Methodology
The study tested 835 nasopharyngeal aspirates from pediatric in-patients for hBoV DNA using PCR and confirmed positive results by sequencing.
Potential Biases
The study's retrospective nature and reliance on previously collected samples may introduce bias in the interpretation of clinical relevance.
Limitations
The study was retrospective, and clinical data for hBoV negative samples were not obtained, limiting the ability to analyze associations with clinical manifestations.
Participant Demographics
The median age of participants was 1.8 years, with 59% being boys.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.044
Statistical Significance
p = 0.044
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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