PERSISTENT PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTIONS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CHILDREN

Immunocompromised patients have been shown to suffer from prolonged vi ral infections often without detectable immune response. Here chronic infections with low virus levels can be frequently observed. In these patients viral DNA can be detected over long periods by polymerase cha in reaction (PCR). In this study parvovirus B19 presence was assessed by PCR, immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from children with mainly oncological and hematological diseases. In 45% of sera B19 DNA was observed. Of the children 25% had IgG antibodies to viral protein 1 and 2 (VP1/2) and 15% to nonstructural protein 1 (NS 1 ). In 6% of children IgM antibodies to VP1/2 were detected. These resu lts indicate that the number of children with immune response to B19 p roteins is distinctly lower than the number of children with B19 DNA. Transfusions of blood products might have been a possible route for B1 9 infection. Establishment and maintenance of a persistent parvovirus B19 infection with or without immune response are enhanced in the anal yzed immunocompromised children in comparison with immunocompetent chi ldren. A persistence of B19 DNA was demonstrated up to 10 months in pa tients sera.