Epidemiology and phylogenic analysis of Human Bocavirus isolated in children with Acute Respiratory Infection in Cameroun, 2011-2014

CaHReF 20116, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL043

Human Bocavirus (HBoV) was identified for the first time in 2005. The literature review indicates that this virus is a common cause of respiratory infections and gastroenteritis in children. Genetic characterization of this virus remains unknown in Central Africa, particularly in Cameroon. In this study, we evaluated the frequency, seasonality and molecular characteristics of HBoV strains in Cameroonian children with acute respiratory infections.
A set of 810 nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from children aged less than 15 years between September 2011 and July 2014. These samples were screened by real time PCR/RT-PCR for the detection of common respiratory viruses including HBoV. A partial capsid gene was amplified and sequenced for HBoV positive samples. 
HBoV genome was detected in 80/810 (9.8%) samples. Among these positive, 57 (71.2%) were positive for other respiratory viruses. Individuals at high risk of infection were between 6 months and 2 years (12.04%) followed by those aged less than six months (9.71%), ] 2-5] years (8%), and] 5 -15] years (5.32%). The detection of HBoV occurred from September to April. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of VP1/2 showed a low level of nucleotide variation and HBoV-1 circulation. The sequences showed similarity in amino acid and nucleotide ranging from 97.62% to 100% both between them and with the Swedish prototype sequences, ST1 and ST2. Three clades were obtained, two with prototype strains ST1 and ST2, and a third group consisting only of Cameroon strains. HBoV-1 is present alone or in co-detection with other viruses in acute respiratory infections among children in Yaounde, Cameroon. These results can help improve the strategies for monitoring and control of respiratory infections in Cameroon.

Acute respiratory infections, Human Bocavirus, Cameroon