Seroprevalence of anti-human parvovirus B19 antibodies in patients attending a centre for sexually transmitted diseases

The aim of this study was to establish the serological prevalence of anti-h uman Parvovirus B19 (HP-B19) antibodies in a group of 321 patients attendin g a Centre for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and epidemiologically e xamine whether this virus may also be sexually trasmitted. For this purpose, the serum prevalence of anti-HP-B19 evaluated in STD pati ents (39%) was compared with that of 164 healthy blood donors (10%, p<0.001 ), using commercially available ELISA methods detecting the anti-VP1 reacti vity of the sera. The same STD patients were also analyzed for serum reacti vities against 4 STD-causing microorganisms, namely T. pallidum (TPHA), HBV (HBcAb), HCV (HCV-Ab) and HIV (HIV-Ab), to observe possible associations w ith the serum anti-HP-B19 reactivity. These tests were also carried out wit h commercially available kits. The results suggest that the serum anti-HP-B19 antibody prevalence in patie nts with STDs is increased, also independently of their intravenous drug ad dition and varies with the reactivity pattern determined. In addition, as e xpected for a STD, the anti-HP-B19 prevalence is increased in homobisexual patients compared with heterosexuals.