AccScience Publishing / EJMO / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/EJMO025230246
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

An epidemiological analysis of human bocavirus infection in Wuhan, China

Fuyu Luo1 ,  Peiyu Wang2 ,  Jiangpeng Feng1 ,  Haojie Hao1 ,  Jingyuan Wang2 ,  Haibin Liu1,3 ,  Wuxiang Guan1,3 ,  Ai Ping Zeng4* ,  Min Huang5*
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1 Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
2 School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
3 State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
4 Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
5 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
EJMO, 025230246 https://doi.org/10.36922/EJMO025230246
Received: 5 June 2025 | Revised: 14 July 2025 | Accepted: 1 September 2025 | Published online: 7 October 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Introduction: Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a critical pathogen responsible for acute respiratory infections in young children. However, there is a relative paucity of relevant epidemiological data related to the HBoV infection, which constrains a comprehensive understanding of the infection and transmission patterns of the virus.

Objective: This study aimed to address the knowledge gaps and to provide a scientific basis for public health strategies and clinical management programs for HBoV through epidemiological analyses.

Methods: This study analyzed 416 HBoV-positive respiratory cases in Wuhan, China, from July 2021 to December 2024, focusing on demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and co-infection patterns.

Results: The results indicated that 86.3% of infections occurred in children under 3 years of age, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. Seasonal peaks were observed in autumn, accounting for 54.81%, and winter, accounting for 26.68%. The AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average+Seasonal-Trend decomposition using the Loess model predicted that HBoV infections would continue to be concentrated in autumn and winter in 2025. The most common co-infections were with human rhinovirus (HRV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and other pathogens. The HRV co-infection rate was 22.84%. Elevated levels of interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-2R, as well as altered lymphocyte subsets, such as reduced natural killer cells, suggested compromised immune responses during infection.

Conclusion: HBoV infections are highly prevalent in young children, particularly during autumn and winter. Frequent co-infections and immune dysregulation underscore the need for improved diagnostics and surveillance. Public health interventions should focus on high-incidence seasons to reduce the burden of HBoV-associated respiratory infections.

Keywords
Human bocavirus
Epidemiology
Respiratory infections
Co-infection
Pediatric population
Funding
This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFC2605100 and 2023YFC2605103), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2024 AFB1065), the Wuhan Knowledge Innovation Special Project (2023020201020303), the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF (GZC20241887), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2024M763499), the Postdoctor Project of Hubei Province of China (2004HBBHCXA096), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (JCZRQN202501357).
Conflict of interest
All authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Eurasian Journal of Medicine and Oncology, Electronic ISSN: 2587-196X Print ISSN: 2587-2400, Published by AccScience Publishing
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