IGG AND IGM ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN PARVOVIRUS-B19 IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH A CLINICAL-DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTION WITH THE VIRUS AND IN THE GENERAL-POPULATION OF SAUDI-ARABIA

A total of 56 samples of serum from 32 patients with a clinical diagnosis of human parvovirus B19 infection were tested for specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies by means of the recently available indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Parvoscan-B19, Ferring Diagnostica, Sweden). The assay was also used in order to determine the age-specific prevalence of antibodies to the virus in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Specific IgM antibodies were detected in 94 % specimens collected 1 week after the onset of illness and could be detected for up to 2 months. On the other hand, specific IgG antibodies were detected in 85 % patients from whom acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples were collected. Saudis begin to be exposed to human parvovirus B19 early in life and prevalence of exposure increases with age in both sexes (overall prevalence 19·0 %). The availability of a commercial ELISA makes it possible to diagnose infection with the virus routinely and will help in establishing the extent of exposure to it in various communities. © 1993 The British Society for the Study of Infection.