Molecular diagnosis of coinfections with Human bocavirus and genotyping kenyan Isolates of the emerging virus
Abstract
In Kenya, most surveys on viral respiratory tract infections, often, have
always concentrated on the classical pathogens, which are respiratory
syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza and influenza virus
as the commonest viral causes of upper respiratory tract infections
whereas newer pathogens have emerged that cause similar symptoms.
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is one of the recently discovered viruses
isolated from respiratory specimens globally. This virus may cause
respiratory symptoms clinically indistinguishable from influenza. The
primary aim of this study was to generate data that will provide baseline
information on a newer and potential aetiological agent of acute
respiratory tract infections in our communities. The data generated
confirms that human bocavirus is already circulating in Kenya and can be
isolated from clinical specimens of patients experiencing influenza like
symptoms. Only 1.8 % of samples analyzed were positive for HBoV DNA,
making the frequency of detection of HBoV less common than all the other
classic pathogens but probably more common than herpes simplex virus
type 1. Human bocavirus infection in Kenya seems to affect children less
than two years of age indicating that infection with the virus might
primarily be during the early stages of life. A BLASTsearch of GenBank
with sequences obtained from Kenyan HBoV isolates identified several
human bocaviruses that showed 99% identity based on VP1/2 region.
Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Kenyan isolates and several
other previously sequenced viruses (HBoVl-4) indicated that the HBoVllike
lineage (ST2genotype) is the main strain circulating in Kenya.There is
need to understand more on the role of the virus in cases of lower
respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections, because patients with
HBoV infections present with non-specific clinical manifestations. This is
the first report documenting the existence of HBoV in Kenya and
describing the genotype. This information should add to the body of
knowledge needed to monitor for emerging viral infections.
Citation
Master of Science in Tropical and Infectious Diseases (MSc TID)Publisher
University Of Nairobi College of Health Sciences