Human bocavirus

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a virus that was discovered in 2005. It is named after the Boca Raton Virus, which was discovered in the same year. HBoV is a member of the Parvoviridae family, and is classified as a Parvovirus B19-like virus. It is one of the smallest viruses known, with a diameter of approximately 18-26 nanometers.

Discovery

Human bocavirus was discovered in 2005 by a team of researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The team was led by Tobias Allander, who used a technique known as random amplification to identify the virus. The discovery was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Structure and Genome

The human bocavirus is a non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus. Its genome is approximately 5.3 kilobases in length and contains three open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF encodes the non-structural proteins NS1 and NP1, while the second and third ORFs encode the viral capsid proteins VP1 and VP2.

Clinical Significance

Human bocavirus is primarily associated with respiratory tract infections, particularly in children. It has been detected in up to 10% of children hospitalized with respiratory tract infections. However, its role as a causative agent of disease is still under investigation, as it is often found in conjunction with other viruses.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of human bocavirus infection is typically made through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of respiratory secretions. However, as the virus can be present in asymptomatic individuals, a positive PCR result does not necessarily indicate that the virus is the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Treatment and Prevention

There is currently no specific treatment for human bocavirus infection. Management of the infection is primarily supportive, focusing on the relief of symptoms. As the virus is spread through respiratory droplets, prevention measures include good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.

See Also

• Parvovirus B19
• Respiratory tract infection
• Polymerase chain reaction

Human bocavirus Resources
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