It has been suggested that human bocavirus (HBoV) is related to acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children (prevalence: 0.9% to 33%) although clinical characteristics have not been clearly established yet. Objectives. To identify the presence of HBoV in patients with ARI hospitalized in Hospital de Niños de Córdoba and describe cases without co-infection. Method. HBoV screening was done by traditional PCR. Specimens to be screened were obtained from nasal secretions of 222 children under 2 years of age hospitalized due to an ARI during 2011. Demographic, clinical and radiological data were recorded. Results. Fifteen HBoV+ patients (6.8%) were identifed. Their median age was 3.5 months (range: 1-22), 7/15 in co-infection (5 respiratory syncytial virus, 1 parainfuenza-3, 1 Bordetella pertussis). Cases without co-infection: pneumonia 5/8, bronchiolitis 3/8; two required intermediate care, 7/8 oxygen therapy, 7/8 bronchodilators, 6/8 antibiotics; associated disease 1/8 (microcephalus/heart disease). Conclusions. HBoV was identifed in 15 out of 222 children (6.8%); the diagnosis of pneumonia was predominant without severe cases nor complications upon discharge.

Bocavirus humano (BoVh) ha sido relacionado con la infección respiratoria aguda (IRA) en los niños (prevalencia 0,9% a 33%), aunque las características clínicas aún no han sido claramente establecidas. Objetivos. Identifcar la presencia de BoVh en pacientes con IRA internados en el Hospital de Niños de Córdoba y describir los casos sin coinfección detectada. Método. Se realizó la pesquisa de BoVh por PCR convencional a partir de secreciones nasales de 222 niños menores de 2 años hospitalizados por IRA durante 2011 y se registraron los datos demográfcos, clínicos y radiológicos. Resultados. Se identifcaron 15 pacientes BoVh+ (6,8%), con una mediana de edad de 3,5 meses (rango 1 a 22), 7/15 en coinfección (5 virus respiratorio sincicial, 1 parainfuenza-3, 1 Bordetella pertussis). Casos sin coinfección: neumonía 5/8, bronquiolitis 3/8; dos requirieron cuidados intermedios, 7/8 oxigenoterapia, 7/8 broncodilatadores, 6/8 antibióticos; enfermedad asociada 1/8 (microcefalia/cardiopatía). Conclusiones. Se identifcó BoVh en 15 de 222 niños (6,8%); predominó el diagnóstico de neumonía sin casos graves ni complicaciones al alta.

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus whose association with respiratory disease is currently under investigation. OBJECTIVE: To determine HBoV prevalence in children with lower acute respiratory infection. METHODS: We investigated HBoV in 433 nasopharyngeal aspirates collected in 2007-2009 from children 0 to 5 years old hospitalized with bronchiolitis or pneumonia in Córdoba, Argentina. RESULTS: The general prevalence of HBoV was 21.5% and the positive cases (HBoV+) were more frequent during winter and spring. The mean age of HBoV+ patients was 6.9 months, with 87.1% of the detections corresponding to infants less than 1 year old (among which the prevalence of HBoV was 26.3% in patients < 3 months of age, 22.1% in 3 to 6 months, 25.3% in 6 to 9 months, and 18.8% in 9 to 12 months). The sequence analysis of the NP1 coding region of 15 isolates showed that all isolates from Cordoba were HBoV1 which exhibited a homology of nearly 100% both among themselves and with the originally discovered virus from 2005. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results indicate that HBoV is a significant pathogen that contributes to acute respiratory infection both on its own and during coinfection with other viruses.