Human parvovirus B19 in patients with beta thalassemia major from Tehran, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundDue to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as beta-thalassemia major leads to suppression of erythrocyte formation, referred to as transient aplasia crisis (TAC), which may be life-threatening. We investigated the prevalence of parvovirus B19 among patients with beta thalassemia major attending the Zafar Adult Thalassemia Clinic in Tehran, Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed to determine the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood samples and parvovirus B19 genotypes in plasma samples of patients with thalassemia major. The population consisted of 150 patients with beta-thalassemia major who attended the Zafar clinic in Tehran. Specimens were studied using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.ResultsThe prevalence of parvovirus B19 in our study population was 4%. Of 150 patients with thalassemia, six (4%) were positive for B19 DNA. There was no significant correlation between blood transfusion frequency and B19 DNA positivity. Finally, phylogenetic analysis of human parvovirus B19 revealed genotype I in these six patients.ConclusionIn this study, acute B19 infections were detected in patients with beta thalassemia major. Screening of such high-risk groups can considerably reduce the incidence and prevalence of B19 infection; thus, screening is required for epidemiologic surveillance and disease-prevention measures.

Frequency of human Parvovirus B19 among patients with respiratory infection in Iran

“…This is a weak point for ELISA method which is associated with false positive results. Using probe in real-time PCR assay leads to increase the specificity and preventing false positive results ( 1 ).…”

“…The real-time PCR assay was performed using the Rotor-Gene Q instrument (Qiagen, Germany) for the detection of parvovirus B19. The primers and TaqMan probe were obtained from our previous study ( 1 ) which designed in the NS1 region, with the most conserved region among different strains of parvovirus B19. The amplification conditions were as follows: 95º C for 10 min, then 40 cycles of the following sequential steps: 95º C for 15 s, 60°C for 1 min.…”

“…In some cases, the virus is associated with serious clinical conditions such as erythema infectiosum, arthropathy, hydrops fetalis, transient aplastic crisis (TAC), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and chronic red cell aplasia. Humans are the only known host for parvovirus B19 ( 1 - 3 ).…”

Human parvovirus B19 and parvovirus 4 among Iranian patients with hemophilia

“…Human parvovirus B19 (B19V), the smallest human DNA virus, belongs to the Erythroparvovirus genus within the Parvoviridae family [ 1 ]. B19V is a non-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus with three distinct genotypes that are distributed differently around the world [ 2 ].…”

Antenatal Investigation of Ductus Venosus Velocity as a Method of Detecting the Fetal Heart Failure, Caused by Parvovirus B19 Infection

“…Parvovirus B19 infection is a potentially lifethreatening disease [1] for a fetus, especially during the first two trimesters of pregnancy that can cause a variety of signs of its damage (severe anemia, ventriculomegaly, hypertrophic myocardiopathy and pericardial effusion, nonimmune fetal hydrops, hydropic or nonhydropic intrauterine fetal death, intrauterine growth retardation, thrombocytopenia, meconium peri tonitis, hepatic calcifications, abnormal long term neurodevelopment, ascites, placentomegaly, etc.) [2].…”