NESTED POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF B19 PARVOVIRUS DNA IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS PATIENTS

Persistent B19 parvovirus infection has been recognized in immunocompr omised patients, often occurring with a low-titer viremia. In this stu dy, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of B19 pa rvovirus DNA was carried out on the sera of 49 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-seropositive patients, negative for the detection of B19 DNA at dot blot hybridization assay and with different values of seru m anti-B19 IgM (27 patients proved positive and 22 negative). Of the 4 9 HIV-seropositive samples tested by nested PCR, seven were positive f or the detection of B19 DNA. All seven belonged to the group of subjec ts seropositive for specific anti-B 1 9 IgM. The study shows that, in the presence of specific B19 IgM, circulating virus may still be prese nt but can be detected only by PCR. In that B19 infection can occur wi th low-titer viremia in immunocompromised patients, PCR may be the onl y method for virus detection.