Molecular detection of human parvovirus B19 in umbilical cord blood: Case study of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundHuman parvovirus B19 (HPVB19) can infect and cause abortion, non-immune hydrops fetalis, and intrauterine fetal death in pregnant women. The present study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of HPVB19 among pregnant women in Tehran, Iran. MethodsThe present single-center cross-sectional study was conducted by screening testing for HPVB19 infection in pregnant women from February 2016 to July 2020 at Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Cord blood tissue samples were collected from each pregnant woman and all samples were preserved at −70 °C. Genomic DNA was extracted from all cord blood tissue samples and the presence and frequency of HPVB19 were determined through conventional PCR assay. ResultsA total of 182 cord tissue samples were screened for HPVB19 DNA. The median age of the pregnant women was 28 years ranging from 20 to 49 years. HPBV19 was detected in 8.8% (n = 16/182) of the samples studied. The frequency of HPVB19 in pregnant women with different pregnancy conditions was as follows: IUFD (n = 2/55; 3.6%), term (n = 10/84; 11.9%), and premature (n = 4/86; 4.7%). The lowest (n = 0/25; 0%) and highest (n = 3/5; 60%) prevalence rates of HPVB infection were detected within the 21–30 weeks of gestation and post-term (>40 weeks), respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of HPVB19 infection among pregnant women with Hgb levels >10 was high (9.3%; n = 15/161). ConclusionGiven that no vaccine exists against HPVB19, it is recommended that pregnant women should be routinely screened during pregnancy to ensure immunity against HPVB19.