Seroepidemiological Study of Parvovirus B19 Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Ayatollah Rohani Hospital in Babol, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Parvovirus B19 is a common viral pathogen associated with a variety of clinical manifestations, including significant complications during pregnancy such as fetal anemia, miscarriage, and hydrops fetalis. Determining the seroprevalence of B19-specific antibodies in pregnant women is essential for assessing population immunity and potential risk to the fetus. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against parvovirus B19 among pregnant women attending Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Babol, Iran.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 247 pregnant women in 2018. Serum samples were analyzed for parvovirus B19-specific IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Associations between seropositivity and demographic/clinical variables were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of the 247 participants, 124 (50%) were seropositive for B19-specific IgG, indicating previous exposure. Additionally, 10 of 90 women (11.1%) tested positive for IgM antibodies, suggesting recent infection. No statistically significant associations were found between seropositivity and variables such as age, gestational age, or history of miscarriage in the multivariate analysis, although parity showed significance in the univariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Approximately half of the studied pregnant women had no detectable immunity to parvovirus B19 and were at risk of primary infection during pregnancy. The presence of IgM antibodies in a subset of women highlights the need for increased awareness, routine screening, and preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of vertical transmission and adverse fetal outcomes.