# Parvovirus B19 and Parvovirus 4 infections among healthy blood donors; A prevalence report from Iran

## TL;DR

This study reports the prevalence of Parvovirus B19 and Parvovirus 4 among healthy blood donors in Iran, highlighting the need for screening to prevent transfusion-related transmission.

## Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data for B19V and PARV4 in Iranian blood donors and identifies a potential risk for asymptomatic transmission.

## Key findings

- 3% of donors tested positive for B19V DNA, and 1.5% for PARV4 DNA.
- 76.5% of donors had anti-B19V IgG antibodies, while 2% had anti-B19V IgM.
- A significant difference in platelet levels was observed among infected and non-infected donors.

## Abstract

Parvoviruses, characterized by their tropism for blood cells, can manifest as asymptomatic infections. With their ability to persist in blood, assessing the prevalence of Parvovirus B19 (B19V) and Parvovirus 4 (PARV4) among healthy blood donors is essential for evaluating the potential transmission risks through blood transfusions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive screening protocols.

Four hundred blood donors participated in the study, with their blood specimens subjected to Real-Time PCR analysis for B19V and PARV4 nucleic acids after obtaining informed consent. Additionally, Complete Blood Count (CBC) assessments and determination of anti-B19 V-IgM and anti-B19 V-IgG antibody titers were performed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for all collected samples.

The results reveal that 12 out of 400 individuals (3 %) exhibited positive results for B19V DNA, while 6 out of 400 individuals (1.5 %) tested positive for PARV4 DNA. Additionally, 8 out of 400 individuals (2 %) displayed positive results for anti-B19V IgM, and 306 out of 400 individuals (76.5 %) exhibited positive results for anti-B19 IgG. Notably, one donation from a donor presenting anti-IgM antibodies was subsequently confirmed as B19V DNA-positive through Real-Time PCR. In the analysis of CBC, a significant disparity in platelet levels was observed between B19V-positive donors, PARV4-positive donors, and B19V-negative donors.

The study suggests that individuals at high risk, lacking detectable B19V antibodies, should undergo systematic screening and exclusion. This precaution is intended to minimize potential contamination risks within the studied cohort, despite the undefined pathogenesis and clinical implications of PARV4.