Molecular and serological assessment of parvovirus B19 infections among sickle cell anemia patients

Abstract

Introduction: Parvovirus B19 is a cause of hemolysis and red blood cell aplasia in patients with sickle cell anemia. The present study aimed to assess parvovirus B19 infection among sickle cell anemia patients. Methodology: All patients (n = 138) included in the study were sickle cell anemia patients. Blood donors were used as a control group. Assessment of parvovirus B19 antibodies and viral DNA was performed using established methods of detection and B19 recomBlot assay. Results: Detectable levels of parvovirus B19 IgG were found in 52 samples (37.6%) whereas anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies were detected in four (2.89 %) patients of the sickle-cell anemia group. Anti-B19 IgM-positive samples contained B19-viral DNA. These four patients presented with fever, malaise, pallor and no cutaneous rash. Anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies were detected in 22 (39.3%) of the control blood donors group. Anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies were not detected in the control group. Using the recomBlot assay, 58 test samples (42%) were found to contain detectable levels of Parvovirus B19 antibodies. All the samples that were positive for parvovirus B19 IgG by the ELISA were also positive by the recomBlot assay. Six samples were only positive by the recomBlot assay and not by the ELISA. Two of these six samples were positive for B19 viral DNA. Conclusions: Establishing the extent of parvovirus B19 infection in sickle cell anemia patients will help in proper management of aplastic crisis in such patients. The B19 recomBlot assay may be suitable as a confirmatory assay.

Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 antibodies and evidence of viremia among Nigerian patients with sickle cell anemia

“…Therefore, our data and the three recent epidemiological data reported in Nigeria suggest a possible variation in parvovirus b19 activity in different parts of the country. Similar scenarios with anti-parvovirus b19 IgM prevalence rates ranging from 3.9% to 11.1% have been reported in Saudi-Arabia, USA and Tunisia[24],[25],[27] in the setting of SCA. Furthermore, in other target populations such as blood donors, healthy adults, patients with other hemolytic disorders, cancer patients and HIV patients, variations in the prevalence and incidence of parvovirus b19 infections have also been reported in many countries of the world[28]–[38] ( Table 8 ).…”

“…Therefore, the presence and absence B19 DNA positivity in the anti-parvovirus B19 IgM seropositive samples screened are indicative of recent and old infections in afflicted patients and controls[1],[2],[4]. This observation is also indicative of a persistent infection characterized by sequestration of the virus in P antigen rich tissues/organs such as the liver, myocardium, bone marrow and endothelium coupled with a possibility of a viremia below the detection threshold of the PCR method used[1],[2],[4],[24],[25]. These scenarios have also been reported in similar studies from other SCA endemic countries.…”

Detection of Parvovirus B19 Infection in Thalasemic Patients in Isfahan Province, Iran

“…This temporary halt in the production of red blood cells occurs only in patients with chronic hemolytic anemia due to the short lifespan of red blood cells. The risk of B19 transmission increases in these patients ( 5 , 14 , 15 ).…”

Aplastic Crisis Caused by Parvovirus B19 in an Adult Patient With Sickle-Cell Disease.

“…After reviewing the literature and reported cases, we found that usually the infection occur during childhood or early adolescence. The peak incidence rates occur in 6 to 14-year-old [5] , but rarely during adulthood. Parvovirus infection causes transient aplastic crisis in patients with hemolytic anemia such as sickle cell anemia, hereditary spherocytosis and thalassemia.…”

“…Infection is most frequently found in the late winter or early spring. As parvovirus DNA has been found in respiratory secretions at the time of viremia, the most common route of transmission appears to be respiratory [5] .…”