B19 parvovirus replicates in circulating cells of acutely infected patients
GJ Kurtzman, P Gascon, M Caras, B Cohen and NS Young
Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
Bethesda, MD 20892.
B19 parvovirus is the etiologic agent of fifth disease and transient
aplastic crisis. In natural infections, B19 antigen and DNA have been
detected in sera early in the course of aplastic crisis and only rarely in
fifth disease. We have found B19 DNA in circulating cells of infected
patients by DNA dot blot with a virus-specific probe: in four of four
sickle cell patients with aplastic crisis, in one asymptomatic sibling, and
in one normal adult with fifth disease. Only two of the sera showed B19
DNA. High-molecular weight intermediate forms were detected by Southern
analysis of DNA extracted from cells, thus indicating active replication of
virus in cells rather than passive adsorption to their surface membranes.
Separation of cells into high- and low-density fractions resulted in a
concentration of the virus DNA in the granulocytic fraction.
Volume 71,
Issue 5,
pp. 1448-1454,
05/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
