A REPORT OF HUMAN PARVOVIRUS-B19 INFECTION IN HYDROPS-FETALIS - 1ST AUSTRALIAN CASES CONFIRMED BY SEROLOGY AND IMMUNOHISTOLOGY

Objective: To present the first Australian cases of fetal hydrops indu ced by parvovirus B19. Clinical features: Autopsies on two cases of in trauterine fetal death with hydrops fetalis and pallor revealed eviden ce of myocarditis and widespread characteristic inclusion-bearing cell s, predominantly erythroblasts. The diagnosis of hydrops fetalis induc ed by parvovirus B19 was confirmed in both cases by immunohistological localisation of the viral inclusions by means of a monoclonal antibod y to the VP1 and VP2 proteins of parvovirus B19. A low level of parvov irus B19 IgM antibodies was detected in the second case. Conclusions: It is possible that our relatively small population and lack of famili arity with the histopathological features may have led to underdiagnos is rather than a true absence of fetal parvovirus B19 infection in Aus tralia. The condition can be diagnosed and treated antenatally and the refore should be included in the differential diagnosis of causes of h ydrops fetalis.