Kumthip Kattareeya, Khamrin Pattara, Yodmeeklin Arpaporn, Ushijima Hiroshi, Maneekarn Niwat
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Center of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
One Health. 2025 May 27;20:101092. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101092. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a globally recognized pathogen associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in infants and young children. Its detection in both clinical and environmental water samples has raised concerns about potential waterborne transmission. This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of HBoV in environmental water sources in Chang Mai, Thailand, from July 2020 to December 2022. A total of 600 water samples from various environmental sources were analyzed using PCR assay. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed to identify HBoV genotypes and assess their genetic characteristics. HBoV was detected in 32 of 600 samples (5.3 %), representing a notable decline in the detection rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the sample types, wastewater showed highest detection rate (23.3 %), followed by irrigation water (1.2 %), and river water (0.8 %). No HBoV was detected in environmental reservoir water samples. All four known HBoV genotypes (HBoV1-HBoV4) were identified, with HBoV2 being the most prevalent genotype (19 strains; 59.4 %), followed by HBoV3 (6 strains; 18.8 %), HBoV1 (5 strains; 15.6 %), and HBoV4 (2 strains; 6.2 %). No clear seasonal pattern of HBoV contamination was observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship between environmental and human-associated HBoV strains, suggesting an interactive transmission of HBoV between human and the environment. This study highlights the prevalence and genetic diversity of HBoV in environmental waters during the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the need for continued surveillance to a better understanding its environmental dynamics and potential public health implications.
人博卡病毒（HBoV）是一种全球公认的病原体，与婴幼儿的呼吸道和胃肠道感染有关。在临床和环境水样中检测到该病毒引发了人们对其潜在水传播的担忧。本研究调查了2020年7月至2022年12月泰国清迈环境水源中HBoV的流行情况和基因多样性。使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）分析对来自各种环境来源的600份水样进行了检测。通过核苷酸测序和系统发育分析来鉴定HBoV基因型并评估其遗传特征。在600份样本中有32份（5.3%）检测到HBoV，这表明在新冠疫情期间检测率显著下降。在各类样本中，废水的检测率最高（23.3%），其次是灌溉水（1.2%）和河水（0.8%）。在环境水库水样中未检测到HBoV。鉴定出了所有四种已知的HBoV基因型（HBoV1 - HBoV4），其中HBoV2是最常见的基因型（19株；59.4%），其次是HBoV3（6株；18.8%）、HBoV1（5株；15.6%）和HBoV4（2株；6.2%）。未观察到HBoV污染的明显季节性模式。系统发育分析表明环境来源和人类相关的HBoV毒株之间存在密切的遗传关系，这表明HBoV在人类和环境之间存在交互传播。本研究突出了新冠疫情期间环境水体中HBoV的流行情况和基因多样性，并强调需要持续监测以更好地了解其环境动态和潜在的公共卫生影响。
