Electron microscopy observation of human bocavirus (HBoV) in nasopharyngeal samples from HBoV-infected children

Abstract

The newly identified human bocavirus is frequently detected by molecular techniques in respiratory samples from children with respiratory tract infections, but virions have not been observed so far. We report the electron microscopy observation of viral particles in nasopharyngeal aspirates previously found to be positive for human bocavirus DNA. The virions presented the expected structural characteristics of a Parvoviridae family member.

FIG. 1.

EMs of HBoV in three different samples (a and d, b and e, and c and f) after negative staining with 4% uranyl acetate, observed at ×60,000 (a and b), ×100,000 (c), and ×150,000 magnification (d, e, and f). The boxes outlined in white within micrographs a, b, and c are magnified in micrographs d, e, and f, respectively.