Epidemiology of Parvoviruses B19 Infection, Epidemiology of Parvo Virus, Epidemiology of ParvovirusB19
B19virus is present throughout the year, in temperate climates outbreaks of infection are more common in the spring and summer.
B19 infection in the immunocompromized;- A B19 associated illness characterized by a persistent or a remitting and relapsing anaemia occurs in immunocompromized individuals.
B19 is in the genus parvovirus, which includes a number of animal parvoviruses such as the canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia virus.
EI is a mild childhood illness characterized by a facial rash ("slapped cheek" appearance), and a reticulated or lacelike rash on the trunk and extremities (18).
B19 is the primary etiologic agent causing TAC in patients with chronic hemolytic anemias (e.g., sickle cell disease, hemoglobin SC disease, hereditary spherocytosis, alpha-thalassemia, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia) (22,23).
Human B19virus is a nonenveloped, icosahedral virus with a diameter of 18 to 26 nm.
B19 infection is most commonly acquired between the ages of 4 and 10 years, with outbreaks of erythema infectiosum occurring in junior schools in the spring.
B19virus is not cultivatable in conventional cell culture, although bone marrow suspension and fetal liver culture support very limited viral replication.
This virus was discovered by a virologist named Yvonne Cossart in London in the 1970¹s while investigating laboratory assays for hepatitis B. Using an immunoelectrophoretic technique, Cossart reacted sera from blood bank donors (antigen source) with samples from hepatitis patients (antibody source).
B19 is extremely contagious, and infection occurs worldwide and can occur throughout the year, in people of all ages, either in epidemics or as sporadic cases.
B19virus can be detected in both blood and respiratory secretions five to seven days before a rash is developed and before antibodies can be detected in serum.
Hydrops fetalis and fetal death are complications of intrauterine parvovirusB19 infection.
Human parvovirusB19 is a single-stranded DNA virus with a predilection for infecting rapidly dividing cell lines, such as bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells.
Given the high prevalence of parvovirusB19 in the community, the high rate of silent infection and the low risk of adverse effects on the fetus, routine exclusion of pregnant women from the workplace where erythema infectiosum is present is not recommended.
Occurrence of B19 infection is worldwide and can occur throughout the year in all age groups as either sporadic cases or as clusters of cases of fifth disease.
The virus is spread by exposure to airborne droplets from the nose and throat of infected individuals.
Persons who are exposed to parvovirusB19 and are either pregnant or have an impaired immune function or a chronic red blood cell disorder should consult with their physician.
The B19virus is the only virus in the parvoviridae family that infects humans (Strauss 271).
B19 has a tropism for human erythroid protenitor cells in vitro, consistent with the parovivirus?s necessity for infecting rapidly dividing cells in the S phase of the cell cycle (Fields 2362).
Importantly, while B19 antibody is prevalent in the population, viremia or presence of viral DNA is rare.
ParvovirusB19 is one of the autonomous parvoviruses, which are widespread in nature and frequently cause disease in their hosts (other examples are feline panleukopenia virus and canine parvovirus).
B19 is resistant to lipid solvents and is relatively sensitive to acid and alkali and to heat denaturation.
B19 is often associated with an erythematous maculopapular rash which in its most distinct form is termed erythema infectiousum (EI).
B19virus infection induces apoptosis in liver cells.
Hepatocytes undergo apoptosis in response to infection by B19virus.
Cells were inoculated or mock inoculated in the presence of the caspase inhibitor IETD-FMK (inhibits caspase 8), DEVD-FMK (inhibits caspase 3 and to a lesser extent caspases 6, 7, 8, and 10), WEHD-FMK (inhibits caspases 1, 4, and 5), or LEHD-FMK (inhibits caspases 9 and to a lesser extent caspases 4 and 5).
A person infected with parvovirusB19 is contagious during the early part of the illness, before the rash appears.
By the time a child has the characteristic "slapped cheek" rash of fifth disease, for example, he or she is probably no longer contagious and may return to school or child care center.
ParvovirusB19 has been found in the respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) of infected persons before the onset of rash, when they appear to "just have a cold." The virus is probably spread from person to person by direct contact with those secretions, such as sharing drinking cups or utensils.
Based on the condition of the individual’s immune system, the parvo virus infection can be diagnosed in three major ways: the detection of the pronormoblasts, the detection of the B19virus and the detection of antibodies.
The first cells that fall victim to the human parvovirus become cradles for the replication of the virus.
In detecting the presence of the human parvo virus, any of these procedures are carried out.
Biotrin’s lead product range are tests to detect ParvovirusB19, a viral infection that can cause miscarriage in pregnant women.
Biotrin is the world leader in ParvovirusB19 testing and the only company to have FDA cleared tests.
A newly identified respiratory virus that has been shown to be the causative agent to acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) world-wide (from mild upper respiratory infection’s, bronchiolitis and pneumonia).
