Detection of human Bocavirus 1, 2 and 3 from patients with acute gastroenteritis

AIM We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Human Bocavirus isolates among Iranian patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis. BACKGROUND Human Bocavirus is a new parvovirus that has been identified in association with gastroenteritis. Limited data are available about HBoV in Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS Viral DNA was extracted from all 294 stool samples. HBoV DNA was detected in extracted samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a 354 bp of noncapsid protein 1 (NP1) gene. In addition, all samples were also subjected to a nested PCR to amplify a 455 bp of nonstructural 1 (NS1) gene. RESULTS The main clinical symptoms among HBoV positive patients were diarrhea (77.7%), fever (62.9%), vomiting (55.5%), and anorexia (59.2%). NP1 PCR was positive in 8 samples (2.72%), NS1 was positive in 16 patients (5.44%) and 3 samples had positive results in both regions (1.02%). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that HBoV could be considered as one of the important etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis cases in Iran.