Seroepidemiological study of human parvovirus B19 among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in a medium-sized city in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Sep;104(6):901-4. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000600014.

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 (B-19) may cause chronic anaemia in immunosuppressed patients, including those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We studied single serum samples from 261 consecutive HIV-infected patients using an enzyme immunoassay to detect IgG antibodies to B-19. The seroprevalence of B-19-IgG was 62.8%. The differences in seroprevalence across gender, age, educational categories, year of collection of the serum samples, clinical and antiretroviral therapy characteristics, CD4+ count, CD4+ and CD8+ percentage and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were neither substantial nor statistically significant. There was a non-significant, inverse association between B-19 seropositivity and plasma HIV load and haemoglobin level. Our results indicated that 37.1% of patients might be susceptible to B-19 infection and remained at risk for being infected, mainly during epidemic periods. As B-19 infection can be treated with immune globulin preparations, it may be included in the diagnostic approach toward chronic anaemia in HIV-infected patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parvoviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Parvoviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / virology
  • Parvovirus B19, Human* / genetics
  • Parvovirus B19, Human* / immunology
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral