title: Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 among pregnant women in Tripoli, Libya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human parvovirus B19 has been implicated as a primary etiologic agent of erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) and aplastic crisis in patients with chronic haemolytic anemias. Human parvovirus B19 is known to be associated with adverse effects on fetuses such as hydrops fetalis, intrauterine fetal death, and chronic anaemia in immunocompromized individuals. The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of human parvovirus B19 among the pregnant women in Tripoli, Libya.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total number of 150 participants were included in the study, consisting of women of child-bearing age ranging from 18 to 41 years, and divided into age groups as follows: < or = 21 years, 22-27, 28-32, 33-37, and > or = 38 years. Specific IgM and IgG antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IgG was observed to be prevalent (61%) among the women of child-bearing age. The sero-prevalence of IgM was found to be 5% overall and there was no detectable IgM in the age group between 33 and 37.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of IgG and absence of IgM indicate immunity to primary infection, but a significant percentage of child-bearing aged women are at risk of primary infection with parvovirus B19 which could adversely affect their pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University of Al-Marghib, Al-Kums, Libya. adl@mail.lttnet.net
authors.forename: Elfatah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elnifro
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nisha
authors.forename: Musbah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almabsoot
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daeki
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mujber
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muscat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M