Seroprevalence of human parvovirus B19 in children of a desert region.
A seroepidemiological study was conducted in Kuwait to evaluate the pattern of acquisition of human parvovirus B19 by children in Kuwait and to compare it with patterns described in other regions in different climatic zones. A total of 218 serum samples from children less than 16 years of age were tested for the presence of anti-B19 IgG by enzyme immunoassay. The overall seroprevalence was 17.4%. Infants in Kuwait had low levels of maternally-acquired anti-B19 IgG (8.6%). The age of peak exposure to parvovirus B19 was 10-15 years compared with less than 10 years in England and Wales and more than 20 years in Singapore. The results of this study indicate an influence of geographic differences on transmission of parvovirus B19.
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
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Alsaeid
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Alsaeid
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Essa
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Dimitrov
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Pacsa
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003889:Desert Climate; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G