title: Low-level DNAemia of parvovirus B19 (genotypes 1-3) in adult transplant recipients is not associated with anaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After acute parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection of immunocompetent individuals, viral genomes persist lifelong in various tissues. In immunocompromized patients, acute B19V infection may be associated with severe anaemia. It is unclear whether reactivation of latent B19V DNA may contribute to persistent viraemia and anaemia in transplant recipients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively analysed the impact of B19V infection in 371 adult transplant recipients (kidney, liver, heart, bone marrow). The patients' pre-transplantation serostatus was determined. 1431 sera or plasmas obtained in monthly intervals during six months following transplantation were analysed for the presence of B19V DNA by quantitative PCR which allows discrimination between B19V genotypes 1-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 82% of the patients were seropositive. B19V DNA (<600-1100 geq/ml) was detected in 4.0% of patients and classified as genotype 1 in 12, genotype 2 in one and genotype 3 in two patients. Whereas 5.5%, 6.7% and 5.7% of liver, heart and bone marrow recipients displayed DNAemia, viral genomes were detected only in 1.4% of kidney recipients. Haemoglobin levels and reticulocyte counts showed no differences between DNAemic and non-DNAemic patients. In a control group of 120 healthy subjects, 78% were seropositive and 2.5% displayed DNAemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence and level of B19V DNAemia in adult transplant recipients was comparable to that observed in healthy individuals, but with a distinct accumulation within the first weeks post-transplantation. The presence of low-level DNAemia in transplant recipients was not associated with anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: annelie.plentz@ukr.de.
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plentz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Würdinger
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudlich
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Modrow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014180:Transplantation; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: B19V; DNA; Genotype; Hb; IVIG; IgG; IgM; Parvovirus B19; Quantitative PCR; SD; Seroprevalence; Transplantation; deoxyribonucleic acid; f; female; genome equivalents; genotype; geq; gt; haemoglobin; immunoglobulin G; immunoglobulin M; intravenous immunoglobulins; m; male, mean; qPCR; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; reti; reticulocytes; standard deviation; transplantation; tx; y; years