Human bocavirus – Exploring Microbial Diseases

SUMMARY

Human bocavirus a human pathogenic virus, often targeting the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The virus belongs to the genus Bocaparvovirus and the Parvoviridae family. Young children are more at risk of developing the disease, as young as six months. Diagnosis of the disease is not readily available and requires PCR. Because it is a newly described disease, much research is yet to be done and the full capacity of the disease it yet to be discovered.

FACT TABLE

Formal binomial name of microbe:	Family Parvoviridae; genus Bocavirus
Gram stain (gram positive, gram negative or neither):	Viruses can’t be seen via gram stain
Is the microbe mobile or immobile?	Immobile on its own
Primary habitat?	n/a
Can the organism infect humans?	Yes
Can the organism infect other species? If so, which ones.	This species of Bocaparvovirus affects only humans
Number of infections per year in the US	Not recorded
Number of infections per year in the world	Not recorded. No diagnostic tests or medical treatments

DESCRIPTION

Human bocavirus is typically referred to as bocavirus or HBoV. It is a small single stranded DNA non- enveloped virus. The identified strains of human bocavirus are HBoV, HBoV-2, and HBoV-3. It is genetically and structurally similar to bovine parvovirus with canine minutevirus. The virus was first identified in 2005.

Image result for human bocavirus — Human bocavirus is a virus belonging to the family Parvoviridae

Clinically, bocavirus can be identified with a polymerase chain reaction test. It is difficult to assess if an individual has the virus due to the lack of availability of the PCR test. It is often detected in children who are diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infection or diarrhea symptoms. Other symptoms often seen in children infected with bocavirus are cough, fever, runny nose, and vomiting. It is unknown if these symptoms are caused by bocavirus or not. There is no treatment available for bocavirus. Currently, there is no vaccine for the human bocavirus. It is also not clearly understood how the virus spreads.

It is not widely understood how the virus develops or spreads due to the lack of information available. There is research being done on the virus. This information will be clinically relevant because the virus effects infants and young children. The virus is found in children in all parts of the world and has an unclear prognosis. Future research will indicate if the virus works to make individuals prone to other diseases or if the virus is manifested after the presence of another disease.