[Parvovirus B 19]

Abstract

Since 1981, many reports have contributed to establish that a human parvovirus (parvovirus B 19), which had been isolated only in asymptomatic blood donors, is the causative agent of transient but intense erythroblastopenia in patients with different types of chronic haemolytic anaemia. In vitro cultures of erythroid inhibitors revealed an inhibition by parvovirus B 19, abolished by convalescent serum. In healthy subjects without chronic haemolysis, first contact with parvovirus B 19 results in an inconstant influenza-like syndrome with transient erythroblastopenia which does not produce symptoms since the normal erythrocyte life span covers the effect of parvovirus B 19 on bone marrow. Parvovirus B 19 is also suspected to be the causative agent of erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) which occurs in children.