Detection of Parvovirus B19 in B-thalassemia Major Patients by Serological and Molecular Method

Abstract

Introduction: Because to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection
in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as Beta thalassemia major leads to suppression of
erythropoiesis, referred to as reticulocytopenia,which could be life threatening, The aim of the study was to
determine the rate of occurrence of parvovirus (B19) in beta thalassemia major patient by using real timePCR, Study the correlation between B19 virus and patient’s descriptive data and the correlation between
B19 viral load and IgG titer.
Method: This case-control study was done to detect the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA in plasma samples
and anti-IgG ELISA of patients with beta thalassemia major. The population consisted of 75 patients with
beta-thalassemia major who attended the Aban Al-balady hospital in in the City of Baghdad and 75 healthy
people as a control.
Results: The prevalence of parvovirus B19 in our study population was 28 (37.3%) were positive for B19
DNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in which highly significant different P value (< 0.0001),
Results of enzyme linked immunosorbent assays showed that IgG antibodies was positive in 16 (21.3%)
compared with control group which was 7 (9.3%). According to statistical analysis the difference was in
borderline between case and control group in prevalence of B19 virus. There was significant (P= 0.039)
association correlation between B19 DNA and anti-IgG positivity, but were significant in WBC (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: In study, B19 infections were discovered in patients with beta thalassemia major. Screening of
such risky groups will significantly reduce the incidence and prevalence of B19 infection.