Aim: Determininating the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies among residents of Vojvodina, as well as the incidence of acute infections in different age groups and with different diagnoses, especially in women of generative age and pregnant women.
Introduction: Human Parvovirus B19 is a cause of infections in patients of all age groups. Clinical manifestations vary from asymptomatic to manifest infections such as erythema infectiosum, arthropathy, heart problems, and infections in immunodeficient patients. Acute infections during pregnancy present a distinct problem, which can result in intrauterine fetal death or hydrops fetalis.
Methods: The data presented in this study are the result of serological testing for the presence of HP-B19 infections performed at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Centre for Virology, in the period from November 2015 to November 2016. Detection of specific IgG and IgM antibodies was completed by analysing 472 serum samples. Samples were tested using the ELISA test manufactured by VIRION, Germany, in the VIRION Analyzer I-2P device.
Results: Of the total number of tested subjects, an acute infection was detected in 10.8% of the cases (11.7% of pregnant women, and 7.14% of children). An acute infection was confirmed in 13.9% of the patients in a febrile state, and 7.1% of the patients diagnosed with arthritis, immune deficiency, and heart failure. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was confirmed in 42.8% of the tested subjects, 36.8% of pregnant women, 60.78% of non-pregnant women of generative age, and 11.03% of children. In the total sample, 46.4% of the results were negative.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that Human Parvovirus B19 exist and circulates in the population of Vojvodina. The use of rapid serological tests enables a specific etiological diagnosis, timely implementation of appropriate infection control measures, and an appropriate treatment of patients, especially those belonging to high risk groups like pregnant women are.