Reference ID: 2020-07269

TITLE:
Parvovirus B19: an underestimated micro virus with major multisystem
consequences

INTRODUCTION:
The Parvoviridae family contains two subfamilies: Parvovirinae, which infect
mammals and birds, and Densovirinae, which infect arthropods.
The Parvovirinae subfamily has been subdivided into eight genera, of which five
include human pathogens: Erythroparvovirus (parvovirus
B19), Dependoparvovirus (adeno-associated
virus), Protoparvovirus (bufavirus), Amdoparvovirus, Bocaparvovirus  (human
bocavirus), Aveparvovirus, Copiparvovirus, and Tetraparvovirus (PARV4).There are
three genotypes within the Erythroparvovirus genus. Parvovirus B19 is the
predominant parvovirus pathogen in humans and the prototype genotype 1 strain.
Genotype 2 (prototype strain, LaLi) and genotype 3 (prototype strain, V9) are less
common and more recently described. Genotypes 1 and 2 are typically found in
western countries (eg, United States and Europe), while genotype 3 circulates
primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, but has been encountered in
Europe and India(1). It is a common infection worldwide and are associated with wide
spectrum of acute and chronic diseases in humans ranging from  febrile rash
(erythema infectiosum) in children to more complex diseases such as acute symmetric
polyarthropathy in adults, persistent anemia in immunocompromised patient, transient
aplastic crisis, spontaneous abortion and hydrops fetalis in pregnant women, chronic
anemia and graft rejection in transplant recipients(2).
The exact rate of occurrence in India is unclear and because of its non specefic
symptoms it is very often misdiagnosed which could quite possibly result in the
worsening of the conditions. The study pattern for this project will be a cross sectional
study that aims to identify the occurrence of the virus in women with bad obstetric
histories and in healthy blood donors to truly understand the scale of its spread.

OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to identify and quantify the cases of Parvovirus B19 infection in
women with poor obstetric histories and healthy blood donors in a tertiary care centre
( Sri Ramachandra Hospital) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to understand the occurrence of
the infection and to correct treatment for infected patients accordingly.

METHODOLOGY:
Study type: Population based non experimental observational study
Study design: Analytical cross sectional study
Study population: Patients with poor obstetric histories and as a screening test for
blood donors in Sri Ramachandra Hospital Porur, Chennai
Sample size:
Selection criteria:
 Poor obstetric history with no perceivable cause for the same
 Screening mandatory for all blood donors
Instruments used: ELISA, Conventional nested PCR and agar gel electrophoresis
IMPLICATIONS:
Parvovirus infections are often misdiagnosed resulting in severe complications that
could have been avoided so this study aims to show the prevalence of the infection in
the general population so as to avoid the complications via early detection in the
future.

REFERENCES:
(1) Uptodate.com- microbiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of Parvovirus B19
(2) Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious disease,8th
edition.