Human Bocavirus and was similar to that observed in studies that were not limit- This work was partly financed by the “Convenio Diputación ed to specimens that had already tested negative for other Gipúzkoa-Hospital Donostia” and by a grant from the Spanish microorganisms and in which a wide number of agents Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo CIBER CB06/06. were investigated (4). Adenoviruses have been associated Dr Vicente is a medical microbiologist at the Hospital with infection of the colon and the gut and are a cause of Donostia, Gipúzkoa, Spain. His research focuses on viral respira- severe gastroenteritis in nonindustrialized countries. In this tory infections and meningococcal infection epidemiology. study, coinfection of adenovirus and HBoV was detected in 1 respiratory specimen but these together were not detected in any fecal sample. References HBoV and are the only 2 species of 1. Allander T, Tammi MT, Eriksson M, Bjerkner A, Tiveljung-Lindell the family that have been associated with A, Andersson B. Cloning of a human parvovirus by molecular disease in humans. To date, HBoV has only been detected screening of respiratory tract samples. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. in samples from the respiratory tract and has been associ- 2005;102:12891–6. Erratum Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102:15712. ated with both upper and lower respiratory tract disease in 2. Ma X, Endo R, Ishiguro N, Ebihara T, Ishiko H, Ariga T, et al. infants and young children. The results of our study show Detection of human bocavirus in Japanese children with lower res- that HBoV is also present in the gastrointestinal tract in piratory tract infections. J Clin Microbiol. 2006;44:1132–4. children with gastroenteritis with or without symptoms of 3. Arnold JC, Singh KK, Spector SA, Sawyer MH. Human bocavirus: prevalence and clinical spectrum at a children’s hospital. Clin Infect respiratory infection. The fecal excretion adds new con- Dis. 2006;43:283–8. cern about the transmission of HBoV. 4. Arden KE, McErlean P, Nissen MD, Sloots TP, Mackay IM. To our knowledge, this report is the first to document Frequent detection of human , paramyxoviruses, coro- HBoV in human feces. The high frequency of HBoV naviruses, and bocavirus during acute respiratory tract infections. J Med Virol. 2006;78:1232–40. detection in the feces of children with gastroenteritis and 5. Smuts H, Hardie D. Human bocavirus in hospitalized children, the absence of any other intestinal pathogen suggest that South Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:1457–8. this new species is an enteric, as well as a respirato- 6. Durham PJ, Lax A, Johnson RH. Pathological and virological stud- ry, pathogen. Further investigations to confirm this prelim- ies of experimental parvoviral enteritis in calves. Res Vet Sci. 1985;38:209–19. inary hypothesis and gain greater knowledge of the 7. Bastien N, Brandt K, Dust K, Ward D, Li Y. Human bocavirus association between HBoV and enteric disease are infection, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:848–50. required. Address for correspondence: Emilio Pérez-Trallero, Hospital Donostia – All material published in Emerging Infectious Diseases is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special per- Microbiology, Paseo Dr Beguiristain, s/n San Sebastian Gipúzkoa 20014, mission; proper citation, however, is required. Spain; email: [email protected]

Instructions for Infectious Disease Authors

etymologia Dispatches Articles should be no more than 1,200 words and need Bocavirus not be divided into sections. If subheadings are used, they should be general, e.g., “The Study” and “Conclusions.” Provide a brief abstract (50 words); Genus in the family Parvoviridae. Previously identi- references (not to exceed 15); figures or illustrations fied members of this genus are pathogens of bovines (not to exceed 2); tables (not to exceed 2); and a brief and canines. A parvovirus of human origin was biographical sketch of first author—both authors if recently discovered and called human bocavirus only 2. Dispatches are updates on infectious disease because it is closely related to bovine parvovirus and trends and research. The articles include descriptions canine minute virus. Human bocavirus is associated of new methods for detecting, characterizing, or sub- with respiratory tract infections, particularly in infants typing new or reemerging pathogens. Developments in and young children. antimicrobial drugs, vaccines, or infectious disease prevention or elimination programs are appropriate. Sources: Allander T, Tammi MT, Eriksson M, Bjerkner A, Tivelung- Lindell A, Andersson B. Cloning of a human parvovirus by molecular Case reports are also welcome. screening of respiratory tract samples. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102:12891-6.

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