Frequency and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus in respiratory illnesses across diverse age groups in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background

Human Bocavirus (HBoV) first described by Allander and colleagues in 2005 is one of the most common viral pathogens causing respiratory diseases. It is a single-stranded DNA virus from the Parvoviridae family that is associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. The prevalence and impact of the HBoV in Lagos, Nigeria, particularly across all age groups, remain underexplored.

Aim

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBoV among individuals with respiratory symptoms and its association with disease in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods

A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 in Lagos. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 400 participants presenting with respiratory symptoms across diverse age groups. The samples were analysed for HBoV DNA using real-time PCR. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results

The overall prevalence of HBoV was 12.5 % (57/400), with a higher 24.6 % prevalence in participants aged 21–30 years than 8.4 % in those aged ≤10 years. The participants diagnosed with respiratory disease had a significantly greater 20.3 % prevalence of HBoV compared to 8.4 % without respiratory disease (χ²=11.69, p = 0.0006). Fever and runny nose were the most common symptoms among HBoV-positive participants, regardless of respiratory disease status.

Conclusions

HBoV is prevalent in Lagos and contributes significantly to respiratory illnesses across all age groups, with the highest burden observed in young adults. These findings underscore the need for further research on the clinical implications of HBoV and its potential for nosocomial transmission in healthcare settings.