Frequency of human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) viremia among HBV-infected patients and healthy donors in Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background/aim: PARV4, a small DNA virus belonging to the family Parvoviridae, was first isolated in an HBV injecting drug user. Several studies have investigated PARV4 co-infection with HBV and HCV and its effect on the progression of liver disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of PARV4 among HBV-infected patients and healthy individuals. Materials and methods:A group of 90 HBV patients and a group of 90 healthy subjects were included in this study. Samples were selected after screening tests such as HBsAg ELISA, anti-HCV ELISA, and anti-HIV ELISA. Nested-PCRs were conducted to detect the PARV4 genome. Positive samples were then subjected to DNA sequencing.Results: PARV4 DNA was detected in 4.4% of HBV patients in comparison with 1.1% of healthy individuals (P-value: 0.36). DNA sequencing results revealed that PARV4 in all five positive samples was genotype I.Conclusions: Although this pilot study showed no significant difference between the frequency of PARV4 among HBV patients and healthy donors, further studies with a larger sample size are suggested to determine the association of PARV4 with HBV co-infection and the impact of this virus on the progression of liver disease in patients with hepatitis B.

Human Parvoviruses May Affect the Development and Clinical Course of Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis

“…Although the hPARV4 genomic sequences have been found in healthy individuals [ 47 , 48 ], as well as in two children with an acute encephalitis syndrome of an unknown etiology [ 49 ], we do not detect hPARV4 DNA either in the patients or in the control group, showing that this virus is not present among healthy individuals and the patients with inflammatory neurological diseases in Latvia.…”