The Sero-Prevalence of Parvovirus Antibodies among Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Zaria

Abstract

Parvovirus is an erythrovirus that infects red cell precursors in individuals with conditions characterised by a high red cell turnover like sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia. Arthritis, vasculitis, carditis, bone marrow failure, and the slapped cheek appearance have been associated with Parvovirus B19 infection. Recurrent blood transfusion is a risk factor for the B19 serotype of Parvovirus infection, with the P antigen as the mediator for erythroid invasion presenting as transient erythroblastopaenia (TEB). Although TEB is self-limiting a few cases may progress to aplastic anaemia. Previous studies report seroprevalence rates of between 44 and 71%, but the dearth of data on the seroprevalence of B19 parvovirus strain in our region prompted this study. Venous blood samples from 239 children aged 1to 15 years of consenting parents and guardians were screened for Parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies using the ELISA technique and antibody titer assessed spectrophotometrically. All the participants have sickle cell anaemia, but were in the steady state. Of this serum samples from 204 (85.4%) participants were positive for IgG antibodies against Parvovirus B19 while 35 (14.6%) were negative for the IgG antibodies.). The age-group with the highest prevalence is 10-12year group with seroprevalence rate of 88.9%. The overall seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 antibodies is 85.4 %. The seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 antibodies is high in all socioeconomic groups. Antibody prevalence is higher in the non-transfused group suggesting that other factors than transfusion play a role in the spread of the B19 strain of Parvovirus B19.

Sero-prevalence of human parvovirus B19 among patients attending some hospitals in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

“…High positivity observed in this study among full time housewives could also be due to the fact that women are always in contact with children both at home and outside the home. This finding does not conform to the work of Ujo et al (8) who did not find any association between occupation and HPVB19 among parents of children in their study.…”

“…This increasing seropositive rate with increasing age is consistent with the work of Girei in Jos (2) and reports from other countries (11,5,15). However, the results contrast that of Ujo and colleagues whose study reported that seropostivity did not increase with age (8). This discrepancy could be due to the fact their study was carried out in children with sickle cell disease whereas this study was carried out among all kinds of patients in the general population aged from 0-70 years.…”

Seroprevalence of parvovirus BI9 antibody in blood donors and sickle cell disease patients at Lagos university teaching hospital (LUTH): a comparative study

“…The study also found that there is no sex association in the seroprevalence of the virus in both SCA patients and healthy blood donors. This is in agreement with the findings of Ujo et al (15) and Teuscher et al (16) in their separate studies.…”

“…18 Kim et al in their study on the epidemiology of parvovirus in sickle cell disease patients reported an increase in seroprevalence with age (19).In this study, we found a peak age prevalence to be 18 -24 years in SCA patients and blood donors. This is higher than that reported by Ujo et al (15).…”

“…The seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 IgG antibody in SCA patients was found to be 61.3% in this study. Ujo et al(15) in a cross sectional study in paediatric SCA patients in Zaria found a seroprevalence rate of 85.4%.…”