Parvovirus Infection

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Abstract
Much has been learned about the human B19 parvovirus since it was first identified by Cossart et al1 in 1975 while developing a counterimmunoelectrophoresis assay for hepatitis B surface antigen. Indeed, it was the location of the "false-positive" precipitin line on the electrophoresis gel that gave the human parvovirus its B19 designation. There are no other human parvoviruses known. Numerous diseases in humans have been linked to human B19 parvovirus including aplastic crisis in patients with chronic hemolytic anemias, erythema infectiosum or fifth disease, arthritis, chronic anemias in the immunocompromised, necrotizing vasculitis, and generalized edema. Fetal consequences of maternal parvovirus infection include nonimmune hydrops, anemia, myocarditis, and death. Infection in newborns has been linked to hepatitis and transfusion-dependent anemia. In this article, we will review all aspects of parvovirus infection with emphasis on infection in pregnancy.