Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review
Recently, human bocavirus (HBoV) has appeared as an emerging pathogen, with an increasing number of cases reported worldwide. HBoV is mainly associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults and children. However, its role as a respiratory pathogen is still not fully understood....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1243 |
| _version_ | 1797599006365319168 |
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| author | Sandra Trapani Alice Caporizzi Silvia Ricci Giuseppe Indolfi |
| author_facet | Sandra Trapani Alice Caporizzi Silvia Ricci Giuseppe Indolfi |
| author_sort | Sandra Trapani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, human bocavirus (HBoV) has appeared as an emerging pathogen, with an increasing number of cases reported worldwide. HBoV is mainly associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults and children. However, its role as a respiratory pathogen is still not fully understood. It has been reported both as a co-infectious agent (predominantly with respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and adenovirus), and as an isolated viral pathogen during respiratory tract infections. It has also been found in asymptomatic subjects. The authors review the available literature on the epidemiology of HBoV, the underlying risk factors associated with infection, the virus’s transmission, and its pathogenicity as a single pathogen and in co-infections, as well as the current hypothesis about the host’s immune response. An update on different HBoV detection methods is provided, including the use of quantitative single or multiplex molecular methods (screening panels) on nasopharyngeal swabs or respiratory secretions, tissue biopsies, serum tests, and metagenomic next-generations sequencing in serum and respiratory secretions. The clinical features of infection, mainly regarding the respiratory tract but also, though rarely, the gastrointestinal one, are extensively described. Furthermore, a specific focus is dedicated to severe HBoV infections requiring hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and/or intensive care in the pediatric age; rare fatal cases have also been reported. Data on tissue viral persistence, reactivation, and reinfection are evaluated. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of single infection and viral or bacterial co-infections with high or low HBoV rates is carried out to establish the real burden of HBoV disease in the pediatric population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:28:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab7b66f091d84aa2b899e1e2a8f9186e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:28:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab7b66f091d84aa2b899e1e2a8f9186e2023-11-18T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-05-01115124310.3390/microorganisms11051243Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive ReviewSandra Trapani0Alice Caporizzi1Silvia Ricci2Giuseppe Indolfi3Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyPediatric Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyPediatric Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini, 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyRecently, human bocavirus (HBoV) has appeared as an emerging pathogen, with an increasing number of cases reported worldwide. HBoV is mainly associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adults and children. However, its role as a respiratory pathogen is still not fully understood. It has been reported both as a co-infectious agent (predominantly with respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and adenovirus), and as an isolated viral pathogen during respiratory tract infections. It has also been found in asymptomatic subjects. The authors review the available literature on the epidemiology of HBoV, the underlying risk factors associated with infection, the virus’s transmission, and its pathogenicity as a single pathogen and in co-infections, as well as the current hypothesis about the host’s immune response. An update on different HBoV detection methods is provided, including the use of quantitative single or multiplex molecular methods (screening panels) on nasopharyngeal swabs or respiratory secretions, tissue biopsies, serum tests, and metagenomic next-generations sequencing in serum and respiratory secretions. The clinical features of infection, mainly regarding the respiratory tract but also, though rarely, the gastrointestinal one, are extensively described. Furthermore, a specific focus is dedicated to severe HBoV infections requiring hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and/or intensive care in the pediatric age; rare fatal cases have also been reported. Data on tissue viral persistence, reactivation, and reinfection are evaluated. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of single infection and viral or bacterial co-infections with high or low HBoV rates is carried out to establish the real burden of HBoV disease in the pediatric population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1243human bocavirusimmune responserespiratory tract infectionco-infectionchildren |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Trapani Alice Caporizzi Silvia Ricci Giuseppe Indolfi Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review Microorganisms human bocavirus immune response respiratory tract infection co-infection children |
| title | Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Human Bocavirus in Childhood: A True Respiratory Pathogen or a “Passenger” Virus? A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | human bocavirus in childhood a true respiratory pathogen or a passenger virus a comprehensive review |
| topic | human bocavirus immune response respiratory tract infection co-infection children |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/5/1243 |
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