Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection in systemic sclerosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Our previous reports suggested a possible association between parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection and systemic sclerosis (SSc), based on higher prevalence of B19V DNA in SSc patients in respect to controls.


METHODS
In the present study, to further evaluate the differences in the pattern of B19 infection in SSc, skin biopsies and bone marrow samples from patients and controls were analysed for B19V DNA detection, genotyping and viral expression.


RESULTS
B19V DNA was detected in skin biopsies from 39/49 SSc patients and from 20/28 controls. Bone marrow showed positive in 17/29 SSc patients, 5/21 haematological patients and 0/10 healthy controls. Genotype 1 was more frequent in skin and bone marrow from patients than from controls. Simultaneous persistence of 2 genotypes was detected in SSc skin and bone marrow samples, never in controls. Viral mRNA for capsid protein was detected in the skin of genotype 1-positive patients and not in control skins.


CONCLUSIONS
The results outline some differences in the rate of persistence of B19V DNA, in the simultaneous persistence of 2 genotypes and in the pattern of viral expression among SSc patients and controls.
Zakrzewska
Krystyna
K
Department of Public Health, Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Florence Florence, Italy. krystyna.zakrzewska@unifi.it
Corcioli
Fabiana
F
Carlsen
Karen M
KM
Giuggioli
Dilia
D
Fanci
Rosa
R
Rinieri
Alessio
A
Ferri
Clodoveo
C
Azzi
Alberta
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult