Characteristic systemic cytokine responses in children with human bocavirus-positive lower respiratory tract infection.

To investigate systemic cytokine responses in human bocavirus (HBoV)-associated lower respiratory tract infection, serum cytokine profiles were analyzed in HBoV positive-children (n=14) using multiplex immunoassay. Concentrations of TNF-a, IL-2, IL-5 and IL-8 on admission were significantly different from those of respiratory syncytial virus-positive children (n=28). This unique cytokine response might partly explain some characteristic clinical features of HBoV-associated respiratory infection.

Distinctive clinical features of human bocavirus in children younger than 2 years.

Background And Objective: Clinical characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) infection have been studied worldwide, but their importance of those characteristics remains unknown. We investigated distinctive clinical features of HBoV-positive children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Methods And Results: During April 2007-July 2009, for 402 hospitalized children younger than 2 years with LRTI, we prospectively examined virus genomes in nasopharyngeal swabs for HBoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenzavirus, and adenovirus.