title: The prevalence of antibody to human parvovirus B19 in England and Wales.
abstract: The prevalence of antibody to human parvovirus B19 (anti-B19 IgG) in England and Wales was measured by an antibody-capture radioimmunoassay. Over 2000 sera were examined; 1422 from the general population, 374 from unselected children admitted to hospital and 300 from women attending an antenatal clinic. Waning levels of maternally-derived antibody were found in infants under 1 year old. In children 1-5 years old, 5-15% had anti-B19 IgG and this rose to 50-60% in older children, young adults and women of child-bearing age. In older people, the prevalence of anti-B19 IgG increased with age, rising to more than 85% in those over 70 years old.
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010321:Parvoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014852:Wales
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral