Seroepidemiology of Human Bocavirus Infection in Jamaica

Hustedt, Joshua W.; Christie, Celia; Hustedt, Madison M.; Esposito, Daina; Vazquez, Marietta

Limitations of our study included lack of serial sampling, lack of detection of viral DNA by PCR, and our inability to verify our ELISA findings with a neutralization assay. Currently, one of the major obstacles to studying the epidemiology and biology of HBoV is the lack of reagents, specifically infectious virus and monospecific anti-HBoV antibodies [32] . Therefore, we were unable to verify our ELISA with a neutralization assay. Instead, we used accepted statistical methods for correct cut-off values in ELISAs [21] . Regrettably, our study was performed prior to the discovery that HBoV has specific subtypes. The ELISA used is not specific to individual HBoV subtypes but rather to HBoV-specific antibodies in general, making the findings not a statement specifically on HBoV1, but of all HBoV subtypes.