IgG and IgM antibodies to human parvovirus B19 in the serum of patients with a clinical diagnosis of infection with the virus and in the general population of Saudi Arabia.
A total of 56 samples of serum from 32 patients with a clinical diagnosis of human parvovirus B19 infection were tested for specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies by means of the recently available indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Parvoscan-B19, Ferring Diagnostica, Sweden). The assay was also used in order to determine the age-specific prevalence of antibodies to the virus in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Specific IgM antibodies were detected in 94% specimens collected 1 week after the onset of illness and could be detected for up to 2 months. On the other hand, specific IgG antibodies were detected in 85% patients from whom acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples were collected. Saudis begin to be exposed to human parvovirus B19 early in life and prevalence of exposure increases with age in both sexes (overall prevalence 19.0%). The availability of a commercial ELISA makes it possible to diagnose infection with the virus routinely and will help in establishing the extent of exposure to it in various communities.
al-Frayh
A R
AR
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kind Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bahakim
H
H
Kidess
E
E
Ramia
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M