Virus structure and pathophysiology: autonomously replicating single stranded non-enveloped DNA which replicates when cell in S-phase. It has two components: viral capsid protein (VP) and non-structural protein (NS). VP antigen on the virus is important for interaction with host cells. The virus infects the progenitor red cells, megakaryoblast, endothelial cells and a few organs like the kidney and the heart. Non-structural protein (NS-1) exerts cell cytotoxicity while NS-2 regulates replication
Clinical manifestation: a cause of several diseases: 20% of aplastic anemia cases, a cause for non-immune hemolytic hydrops fetalis cases, fibromyalgia, renal transplant rejection like syndrome, hepatitis, myocarditis, and adult and children polyarthritis
Hydrops fetalis: it well known that Parvovirus infection during pregnancy can lead to non-immune hemolytic anemia. About 33% of the infected patietns are asymptomatic. Symptoms of infected patient can be rash, myalgia, fever, and lymphadenopathy. Best diagnostic test is IgM for parvovirus
Kidney transplant: Parvovirus can be a cause for glomerulopathy and allograft dysfunction (rejection like picture). The incidence of parvovirus infection in renal transplant patients is probably underestimated, because patients are not routinely screened for it and anemia and/or pancytopenia in these patients are often ascribed to immunosuppressive drugs. Proper diagnosis by IgM, IgG on the serum and immunostaining for Parvovirus in the biopsy material can lead to successful treatment. Eradication of Parvovirus B19 infection after renal transplantation requires reduction of immunosuppression and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy
Cancer patient: The overall prevalence of anti-B19 IgG in adult cancer patients is 60% compared to 25.0% in adult healthy patients,; it can casue or contribute to the anemia or pancytopenia patients have and usually ascribed to cytotoxic therapy
:Diagnostic tests
:The following tests are offered for Parvovirus in our lab
PCR DNA for Parvovirus in blood to detect viremia-
(Immunostaining on tissue (like in kidney transplant or in placenta of hydrops cases-
Serology tests: IgG on the peripheral blood-
We , in the First Medical Laboratory, are dedicated to bring the best of laboratory medicine in clinical practice to Jordan
Please contact for any further inquires
.Dr. Hussam Abu- Farsakh, M.D
American boards of Anatomic, Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology