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Detection of parvovirus B19 DNA, antigen, and particles in the human fetus
Author(s) -
Clewley J. P.,
Cohen B. J.,
Field Anne M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890230409
Subject(s) - parvovirus , hydrops fetalis , virology , fetus , parvoviridae , biology , population , antigen , virus , erythema infectiosum , rubella , pregnancy , antibody , immunology , medicine , genetics , environmental health , measles , vaccination
Human parvovirus B19 commonly infects children, causing erythema infectiosum (fifth disease). However, there is a significant adult population which has not been exposed to the virus and, consequently, does not have protective antibody. Recent reports have associated B19 infection during pregnancy with fetal death, although normal outcome of pregnancy is more common. To characterise further the role of B19 infection in fetal deaths, a series of laboratory investigations has been undertaken on tissues obtained at autopsy. These have demonstrated the presence of virion‐sized DNA by Southern blotting, viral antigen by radioimmunoassay, and viral particles by electron microscopy, all from tissues of hydrops fetalis. These data confirm that the human parvovirus B19 can cross the placenta and replicate in fetal tissues.