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.
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kind Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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al-Frayh
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Bahakim
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Kidess
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Ramia
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