Human Bocavirus in Iranian children with acute gastroenteritis

  Background: Human Bocavirus ( HBoV) infection is of worldwide distribution. There is increasing evidence that HBoV is pathogenic for the human gastroenteric tract. However, less data are available on the role of HBoV in gastroenteritis. The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence of HBoV in children with gastroenteritis.   Methods : Real-time PCR TaqMan was used to screen 200 stool specimens that had been referred to the virology laboratory for HBoV evaluation. All of samples were collected on viral transport media.   Results: Of the 200 stool samples analyzed, 16 (8%) were positive for HBoV. Human Bocavirus positive samples from patients aged between 1 to 5 years with acute gastroenteritis infection suggest a minor role of HBoV in gastroenteritis (p=0.0001).   Conclusion : The study showed a high prevalence of human Bocavirus in young children with acute gastroenteritis diseases in Iran, suggesting that HBoV play a role in the pathogenesis of gastroenteritis.