Detection of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood: Viruses or DNA remnants?
Parvovirus B19 (B19V) DNA can be detected in blood over a long period after acute infection. Several reports associate the presence of B19V DNA with disease, irrespective of timing of the initial B19V infection.



This study aims to analyze the properties of B19V DNA in blood, differentiating between bare, non-infectious strands of DNA and B19V DNA in viable virions.



Ten blood donors with asymptomatic acute B19V infection were followed and sampled up to 22 months after infection. The samples were treated with and without an endonuclease and tested for B19V DNA, to distinguish between DNA in virions and naked DNA.



In the acute phase of infection, high levels of B19V DNA were detected, concurrent with B19V IgM antibodies. B19V DNA apparently was encapsidated, as indicated by resistance to endonuclease degradation. Subsequently, B19V DNA remained detectable for more than one year in all donors at low levels (<105IU/mL). Approximately 150days after infection B19V DNA became degradable by an endonuclease, indicating that this concerned naked DNA. In some donors a second endonuclease-resistant peak occurred.



Detection of B19V DNA in blood by PCR does not necessarily imply that B19V replication takes place and that infectious B19V virions are present. We propose that remnant B19V DNA strands can be released from tissues without active replication. This finding urges to reconsider an assumed role of B19V infection mainly based on B19V DNA detection in blood, a much debated subject in clinical syndromes such as myocarditis and arthritis.
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Department of Blood-borne Infections, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.molenaar@sanquin.nl.
M W A
MW
Molenaar-de Backer
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
A
A
Russcher
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
A C M
AC
Kroes
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Department of Blood-borne Infections, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M H G M
MH
Koppelman
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Department of Blood-borne Infections, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M
M
Lanfermeijer
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Department of Blood-borne Infections, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
H L
HL
Zaaijer
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
DNA; Parvovirus B19; Persistence