FETAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY PARVOVIRAL INFECTIONS

The single stranded DNA parvoviruses occur in humans and many species of animals. In general, they are species-specific and capable of produ cing disease at any stage of life. Parvoviruses have a requirement to replicate in cells in a permissive S-phase of DNA mitosis. The infecti ons may be cytolytic to select cell groups resulting in specific devel opmental defects or may produce more generalized effects such as anemi a, pancytopenia, or hemorrhage. The fetus is at particular risk for da mage because of the vast number of cells in active mitosis. The terato genic effects may be severe, often resulting in fetal death. Infection s in childhood and adulthood are more frequently mild to subclinical. Some of the teratogenic effects recognized in animal species have been identified in humans. With increased knowledge of parvovirus effects in animals, more pathogenic effects may be related to human parvoviral disease. The need for vaccination, currently used annually in many do mestic animal species, continues to be evaluated for humans.