Sero-Prevalence of Human Parvo-Virus B19 Antibody in Paediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patients seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)

Abstract

Introduction: Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is a DNA virus implicated in the pathogenesis of aplastic crisis. Aplastic crisis is one of the medical emergencies complicating sickle cell anaemia (SCA).

Objective: This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of PVB19 in paediatric SCA patients.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos Nigeria. A total of 98 participants were studied comprising 67 sickle cell anaemia subjects and 31 controls (Hb AA) aged between 5 – 17years. Seroprevalence of parvovirus was determined using ELISA kits for IgG and IgM anti-PVB19 antibodies by Immuno-Biological Laboratories, (IBL) Inc. Minneapolis, USA. Results were analyzed using Winpepi statistical software. Fishers’ Exact test, Chi-square and student T-test were used as appropriate to compare variables between both groups. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Thirty eight (56.72%) SCA subjects were positive for anti-PVB19 IgG antibody while 18 (58.06%) controls were positive. Six (8.96%) SCA subjects were positive anti-PVB19 IgM antibodies while 2 (6.45%) controls were positive for anti-PVB19 IgM antibodies. There was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antiPVB19 in both groups.

Conclusion: The study has shown a high seroprevalence of IgG anti-PVB19 antibodies in both SCA subjects and controls. Thus SCA does not confer a higher risk of Parvovirus infection however because of their lower stable haemoglobin state, PVB infection may result in a more symptomatic anaemia compared to the general populace.

Key words: Seroprevalence, parvovirus B19, blood donors, sickle cell anaemia