title: Human parvovirus B19 specific IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies and DNA in serum specimens from persons with erythema infectiosum.
abstract: To determine the diagnostic use of different markers of acute parvovirus B19 infection, serum specimens obtained from 128 persons with erythema infectiosum were tested for specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies by capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-expressed B19 antigen, and tested for circulating B19 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A significant rise in specific IgG and IgA antibodies was detected in 87% and 77%, respectively, of persons from whom acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens were available. Specific IgA antibodies were detected in single serum specimens from 90% of cases and were present in 22 (18%) of 120 persons from a control group without a history of recent exposure to B19. Specific IgM antibodies were detected in 97% of cases and one person (1%) from the control group. B19 DNA was detected in 94% of cases and was absent in 20 persons from the control group positive for both IgG and IgA antibodies. Serum specimens obtained between 4 and 6 months after onset of illness from six additional persons were also tested. All had specific IgG antibodies, four (67%) had IgA, five (83%) had IgM, and none had detectable B19 DNA. Our data indicate that 1) specific IgA antibodies are too persistent to be a useful indicator of recent B19 infection; 2) specific IgM antibodies are the most sensitive indicator of acute B19 infection in immunologically normal persons but can persist up to 6 months; and 3) B19 DNA can often be detected up to 2 months after onset of illness even in immunologically normal hosts and might be a useful adjunct test for diagnosis of acute B19 infection.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Enterovirus Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Usher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Caul
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kajigaya
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D016731:Erythema Infectiosum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes