Prevalence and Viral Load of Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) Among Blood Donors in South-East Brazil

Abstract

The infection of human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a common event in the general population, including volunteer blood donors. In some cases it can be asymptomatic and can remain persistent for a long period of time. The objective of this study was to examine the B19V DNA prevalence and viral load in first-time volunteer blood donors. Blood samples were collected from 91 primary blood donors at the Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Southeast Brazil. Viral detection and quantitation was performed by an in-house TaqMan Ò real-time PCR with high sensitivity. B19V DNA was detected in one male blood donor (1.0 %) and was characterized by a very low viral load (537.36 copies/mL). Our studies demonstrate that B19V DNA at low titer may be present in apparently healthy individuals. Sensitive molecular diagnostic tools can be applied for the screening of fresh blood derived products in order to prevent transfusion-transmitted B19V infection. Keywords Human parvovirus B19 Á B19V Á Viral quantitation Á Blood donorsHuman parvovirus B19 (B19V), a small icosahedral virus (19-22 nm), is the prototype member of the Erythrovirus genus (Parvoviridae family). B19V infection is a common finding in the general population and demonstrates marked seasonality. Clinical manifestations of B19V infection in children and adults may include erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) or arthropathy, nevertheless, great proportion of the infected individuals remain asymptomatic [1]. Therefore, in the general population B19V infections among blood donors can be considered a normal event and many of them have asymptomatic course [2,3]. A peculiar characteristic of B19V infection is that not always the virus is cleared and in many cases it can establish persistency in different body tissues [4]. Persistent B19V infection has been observed in immunologically normal individuals [5] including qualified blood donors [6]. The presence of persistent B19V infection in blood donors raises serious questions regarding transfusion safety of the obtained hemoderivatives, especially plasma products and packed erythrocytes.Moreover, B19V is highly resilient to almost all virus inactivation procedures [7], causes infections with a high viral load and these properties predispose to easy viral contamination of the blood products. The relevance of the low B19V load in asymptomatic donors and for the respective recipients of blood is still unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate B19V DNA prevalence and viral load (VL) during 1 month blood collection in a non-metropolitan blood transfusion center in Southeast Brazil (Ribeirão Preto city, Western part of the São Paulo State).Ninety one peripheral blood samples were collected from 91 first time volunteer blood donors (mean age 35.7 years, 18-65 years, 55 % males). All of them were approved on the preliminary interview for blood donation & Svetoslav Nanev Slavov

Parvovirus B19 seroprevalence, viral load, and genotype characterization in volunteer blood donors from southern Brazil

“…The high rates of B19V DNA prevalence can be due to seasonal variations of the viral circulation and can represent an important factor in defining the period with the highest spread of this virus in the donor population. In previous studies performed among blood donors in the São Paulo state, the detected prevalence was between 0% and 1% ( n = 1 of 100 blood samples) . The rate of B19V DNA detection in South Brazil was similar to studies performed in blood donors from Ghana (1.3%) and Iran (1.2%) but higher than prevalences observed in other countries like Japan (0.01%), Korea (0.1%), China (0.06%‐0.58%); Germany, 0.66%, Denmark (0.006%), Portugal (0.18%), Netherlands (0.56%), and the United States (0.88%) .…”

Seroprevalence, molecular epidemiology and quantitation of parvovirus B19 DNA levels in Iranian blood donors

“…The seroprevalence of B19 is variable and this difference is probably due to the different sensitivity of the used diagnostic method, seasonal variation, B19 genotypes in circulation and demographic characteristics of the studying population …”

Parvovirus B19 in South African blood donors

“…Varying PVB19 IgG prevalence has been reported ranging from 6% to 82.3% . Seroprevalence, much like molecular prevalence, is dependent on the target and sensitivity of the assay used, circulating genotype, geographic region, demographic characteristics, and seasonal variation …”