COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF VIROLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL METHODS IN PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF PARVOVIRUS B19 FETAL HYDROPS

Human parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy represents a potential haz ard to the fetus since fetal loss or fetal hydrops can occur, The risk of fetal loss due to transplacental B19 transmission has been evaluat ed in several studies using different diagnostic methods on maternal a nd fetal specimens, We analyzed the diagnostic value of virological an d serological techniques on maternal serum, Fetal cord blood, and amni otic fluid specimens obtained at the time of clinical diagnosis of fet al hydrops in 18 cases of B19 fetal hydrops. B19 DNA was detected by n ested PCR, dot blot hybridization, and in situ hybridization assay. An ti-B19 immunoglobulin M and G antibodies were detected by immunoassays using recombinant B19 antigens. Our data suggest that for maternal se ra, virological and serological methods have a complementary role in d iagnosis, while for fetal specimens the in situ detection of B19 DNA i n fetal cord blood is the most sensitive diagnostic system.