The frequency of human parvovirus B19 infections in Vojvodina

Abstract

Human parvovirus B19 is found worldwide. It causes various infections, including fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) in small children, acute arthropathy in adults, transient aplastic crisis and chronic anemia in immunocompromised patients and even fetal infection, which may result in intrauterine fetal death or fetal hydrops. Many of these manifestations of B19 infection are caused by infection of erythroid precursor cells in bone marrow. The aim of this paper was to establish the frequency of parvovirus B19 infection in the population of Vojvodina, as well as to indicate the significance of further investigations particularly in highly vulnerable population groups such as small children, pregnant women and immune deficient persons. A total of 244 serum samples of out- and in-patients of different age were analyzed using SERION ELISA classic parvovirus B19 IgG/IgM quantitative and qualitative tests for identification of specific antibodies against human parvovirus B19. Acute infection was found in 35% of examinees, whereas parvoviurs B19 was identified in 32% of examined persons. Our tests results proved that 20% of examined pregnant women in our surroundings have acute HPB19 infection. At the same time, 45% of pregnant women have no specific antibodies, so they are at risk of infection during pregnancy. Acute infection was diagnosed in 41 children (43%): 22 samples (23%) were positive only to IgG antibodies and in 32 samples (34%) neither IgM nor IgG antibodies were identified. Acute infection was more frequently found in preschool children, i.e. in children aged 4 to 6 years (29%). In the absence of complete data on the frequency of particular diseases caused by this virus in our population, tests for human parvovirus B19 are strongly recommended.