Viral Respiratory Infections with Bocavirus in Romania

Human Bocavirus was described in 2001 by Tobias Allander et al. (Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden) in nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from children with acute respiratory infections. The technique used was a random PCR cloning sequencing, observing that there is a new DNA virus identified in 17 of 540 samples (3, 1%). Full spectrum of diseases associated with human Bocavirus (BoV), remains to be defined. Presence of the virus in respiratory secretions, serum, and stool suggests that may cause systemic diseases. Bocavirus belongs to Parvoviridae family and is a single-stranded DNA virus. Analyzed samples in our study were nasopharyngeal exudates collected from 309 patients aged 19 days-96 years, hospitalized with a diagnosis of SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections) in hospitals from eight counties and Bucharest in September 2011–September 2012. Diagnostic method used to detect human BoV was Multiplex RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction) with Seeplex 15 One Step RV ACE Detection Kit. Of the 309 samples tested, 10 were positive for human Bocavirus. All 10 samples were collected from children (7 months-3.5 years) with bronchiolitis and pneumonia without gastrointestinal manifestations. The conclusions observed from the data analysis were: HumanBoV is also present in Romania, meeting at young ages children. The percent of 3, 3% is similar to that found in Sweden, but lower than in Jordan (9%), China (7%) and Taiwan (5, 6%). Symptoms of patients hospitalized and diagnosed with BoV were only respiratory (LRTI-lower respiratory tract infections) and no digestive. BoV positive cases were not associated with others viruses.