Abstract
Human parvovirus B19 causes a wide range of complications in pregnant women including abortion, severe fetal anemia, non-immune hydrops fetalis, and even intrauterine fetal death. However, there is a dearth of information on the prevalence of the virus among pregnant women in southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 231 pregnant women and screened for antibodies to human parvovirus B19 IgM and IgG using an enzyme immunosorbent assay kits. Of the 231 women, 31 were in their first trimester, 146 were in their second trimester, and 54 were in their third trimester. Forty-five (20%) were positive for parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies, 10 (4%) were positive for parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies, and 176 (76%) had no detectable parvovirus B19 antibodies. Twenty-eight (19%) of the 146 pregnant women in their second trimester were positive for parvovirus B19 IgG antibody while three (2%) of the 146 were positive for parvovirus B19 IgM antibody. It is evident that there is a high prevalence of human parvovirus B19 among pregnant women in south-western Nigeria. This suggests that there is an active transmission of the virus in the community; it is therefore necessary to conduct more studies on the virus in pregnant women in Nigeria to ascertain its effect on the fetus.
Highlights
Human parvovirus B19 causes a wide range of complications in pregnant women including abortion, severe fetal anemia, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and even intrauterine fetal death
Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy is mostly asymptomatic, but in approximately 3% of infected pregnant women it might cause a range of complications, including abortion, severe fetal anemia, non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF), and even fetal demise [1,2]
Of the 45 pregnant women positive for B19 IgG, 21% had not worked in a day care, nursery, or other place where children were present; among the 10 pregnant women that tested positive to the IgM antibody against parvovirus B19, none had worked in places where there were children present (Table 3)
Summary
Human parvovirus B19 causes a wide range of complications in pregnant women including abortion, severe fetal anemia, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and even intrauterine fetal death. Twenty-eight (19%) of the 146 pregnant women in their second trimester were positive for parvovirus B19 IgG antibody while three (2%) of the 146 were positive for parvovirus B19 IgM antibody. Conclusions: It is evident that there is a high prevalence of human parvovirus B19 among pregnant women in south-western Nigeria. Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy is mostly asymptomatic, but in approximately 3% of infected pregnant women it might cause a range of complications, including abortion, severe fetal anemia, non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF), and even fetal demise [1,2]. Several factors have been associated with an increased risk of acute parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant women. Serious medical conditions and stressful jobs have been identified as risk factors [5]
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