Prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 in selected groups of patients and healthy individuals

The prevalence of antibodies to parvovirus B19 in sera (n = 745) of various groups of patients and healthy individuals was determined by the enzyme immunoassay, using viral particles as antigen. Among healthy individuals, anti-B19 IgG prevalence was highest in nurses (65.4% (17/26)); in medical students it was 34.1% (47/138) and in pregnant females, 24.4% (48/197). 37.0% (44/119) of HIV-negative haemophiliac patients and 91.7% (33/36) of haemophilic patients with HIV infection were anti-B19 IgG-positive. 45.8% (55/120) of dialysis patients and 27.5% (30/109) of patients with asymptomatic HIV infection were positive for anti-B19 IgG. With the exception of HIV-infected haemophiliac patients, no specific “risk group” for B19 infection could be identified.