Seroepidemiology of human parvovirus B19 among pregnant women in Erbil, Iraq

Abstract EN

Background : Human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) is a member of the family Parvoviridae.

It can be transmitted congenitally from an infected mother to the embryo.

The virus has been implicated in hydrops fetalis, spontaneous abortion, aplastic crisis, and acute symmetric polyarthropathy.

Objective : The present study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of HPV B19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies among apparently healthy pregnant women and to define the risk factors associated with.

Materials and Methods : Blood samples were collected from consenting pregnant women who were attending Erbil Maternity hospitals from the period between January 2018and June 2019.

The sera were obtained from samples were analyzed for IgG and IgM antibodies of HPV B19 using (EUROIMMUN AG, Luebeck Germany) ELISA Classic Parvovirus B19 IgG/IgM kits.

Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on sociodemography and risk factors.

Results : A total of 349 pregnant women were enrolled in this study and were screened for both IgM and IgG antibodies.

Overall, 139 (39.

8%) were positive for parvovirus B19 IgG and 32 (9.

2%) had IgM antibody.

Demographics including age group, occupation, number of children, and trimester of pregnancy.

The differences of distribution of the Parvovorus IgG in relation to the above‑mentioned demography were as follows: age >35 years: highly significant (P ≤ 0.

01), second trimester: no significant, homemakers: highly significant (P ≤ 0.

01), ≥ 5children highly significant (P ≥ 0.

01).

The differences of distribution of the Parvovorus IgM in relation to the above‑mentioned demography were as follows: age <20 years: significant (P ≤ 0.

05), second trimester: no significant, homemakers: highly significant (P ≤ 0.

01), ≥5 children: significant (P ≥ 0.

05).

Conclusions: HPV B19 is prevalent in Erbil, Iraq.

More than half (51%) of the women were IgG negative, so they are susceptible to the HPV B19 infection.

Hence, there is a need for routine screening for B19 IgM antibodies for all women of childbearing age and subsequent clinical management of positive cases.