title: Detection of Parvovirus B19 Infection in Thalasemic Patients in Isfahan Province, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parvovirus B19, a member of the Erythrovirus genus of Parvoviridae family, causes various clinical illnesses including infectious erythema, arthropathy, hydrops fetalis or congenital anemia, and transient aplastic crises. The B19 virus can be transmitted through respiratory secretions, blood products, and blood transfusion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to detect the B19 virus in thalassemia patients in Isfahan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of parvovirus B19 infection was compared between thalassemia major patients and healthy subjects. Plasma samples were collected from 30 thalassemia patients from Isfahan, Iran. Thirty patients without any blood complications were considered as the control group. After DNA extraction from the plasma samples, polymerase chain reaction was performed for parvovirus B19 detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parvovirus B19-specific nucleotide sequence was detected in 6 patients (20%). None of the samples obtained from the 30 control subjects tested positive for B19.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study B19-Parvovirus infection were detected in patients with hematologic disorders in comparison with control subjects. Screening of patients with a high risk of parvovirus B19 infection can considerably reduce the incidence and prevalence of B19 infection.
authors: Department of Virology, Research Institute of Zoonotic Diseases, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors: Razieh
authors: R
authors: Nikoozad
authors: Department of Pathobiology, Research Institute of Zoonotic Diseases, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Mahzounieh
authors: Department of Microbiology, Tehran University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Ghorani
keywords: Human; Iran; Parvovirus B19; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Thalassemia