Standardization of B19 IgG ELISA to study the seroepidemiology of parvovirus B19 in North Indian voluntary blood donors

Abstract

Backgound and Objectives:Parvovirus B19 (B19) being a non-enveloped DNA virus is hence thermo-stable to the current methods of viral inactivation. Therefore transfusion of blood or its component from a viremic donor to non-immune recipients may result in transfusion-transmitted B19 infection with occasional sinister complications. The serologically naïve blood donor population in our country has not been studied. Hence a study was designed to find the sero-status of B19 virus in normal voluntary blood donor population (relatives of recipients) as an indirect measure of the susceptibility to B19 in north Indians together with seroepidemiology of B19.Methods:An in-house anti-B19 IgG ELISA was standardized using cloned, baculovirus expressed, and purified VP1/VP2 capsid proteins as antigen. Anti-B19 IgG antibodies in sera (diluted 1:400) of 1000 healthy voluntary blood donors (18-60 years; mean 30.5 years) were analyzed and their epidemiologic data were documented.Results:A total of 399 (39.9%) donors were seropositive for B19 virus. Seroprevalence was higher in males than females (44% vs 27%) and it increased with increasing age (P<0.01). Socioeconomically, B19 IgG antibody positivities were 61.8%, 61.1%, and 44.4% in low, medium, and high income groups respectively with unskilled laborers having higher seroprevalence in low (48.5%) and middle (58.7%) income group (P<0.05). Housing conditions revealed B19 seroprevalence as 42.6% in donors living in small houses compared to 20.4% in larger houses (P<0.01) but no difference with religion.Conclusions:Seroprevalence to B19 in normal voluntary blood donors was low leaving a large proportion of north Indians susceptible to B19 infection.

Parvovirus B19 antibodies and correlates of infection in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in central Nigeria

“…Pregnant women that have been transfused with blood in the last five years demonstrated a significantly higher rate of IgM antibodies. This finding agrees with reports that linked B19 infection with blood transfusion (Parsyan & Candotti 2007, Kishore et al 2010 and raises an important transfusion policy question in Nigeria. Given the nature of the complications of B19 infection during pregnancy, we recommend, as a matter of transfusion policy, routine screening for B19 IgM antibodies in all blood donors, especially those donating to women.…”

“…The low prevalence of 27.5% from our study indicates that a lower proportion of immune individuals participated in our study population. However, consistent with our findings, Kishore et al (2010) reported a low seroprevalence of 39.9% in a population of Indian blood donors, which led him to conclude that a large proportion of north Indians are susceptible to infection with B19. The 21.8% prevalence reported by Keikha et al (2006) in a population of Iranian pregnant women also agrees with our findings.…”

“…Although it did not reach statistical significance, this observation agrees with previous reports in some European countries and India (Mossong et al 2008, Kishore et al 2010. One explanation for this observation is that a greater proportion of individuals acquire infection at childhood.…”

Serological prevalence of human parvovirus B19 in diseases or disordersrelated to different human body systems

“…In this study, positivity of IgG antibodies in women was slightly significantly higher than in men (73.4% vs. 70.8%, respectively). In a study conducted in India, Kishore et al (15) reported that seroprevalence of B19 in adult blood donors increased with age and the overall seroprevalence of the antibody was 39.9%, higher in males than in females (44% vs. 27%, respectively). Su et al (16), in Taiwan, reported that overall seroprevalence of B19 IgG in healthy volunteers was 23.1%, that the positive rate of the antibody increased slightly with age, and that the antibody rate was slightly higher in men than in women (27.8% vs. 18.8%, respectively).…”

Fatal missed case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis co-infected with parvovirus B19 and Epstein-Barr virus in an infant: Test hyperferritinaemia early

“…Serum was tested for human parvovirus B19 by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as described previously [4,5] and real-time PCR (Shanghai, China). Anti-B19 IgM, IgG were positive but no B19 DNA was detected.…”