Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024)
Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) follows a well-documented cyclical epidemiology, with peaks occurring every 3–4 years. However, recent reports indicate an unusual resurgence in B19V infections across multiple countries, prompting increased surveillance. This study analyzed molecular diagnostic assay res...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Flora Marzia Liotti Simona Marchetti Sara D’Onghia Lucio Romano Rosalba Ricci Maurizio Sanguinetti Rosaria Santangelo Brunella Posteraro |
| author_facet | Flora Marzia Liotti Simona Marchetti Sara D’Onghia Lucio Romano Rosalba Ricci Maurizio Sanguinetti Rosaria Santangelo Brunella Posteraro |
| author_sort | Flora Marzia Liotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) follows a well-documented cyclical epidemiology, with peaks occurring every 3–4 years. However, recent reports indicate an unusual resurgence in B19V infections across multiple countries, prompting increased surveillance. This study analyzed molecular diagnostic assay results from 826 unique-patient samples tested for B19V DNA between 2019 and 2024 at a large Italian tertiary-care hospital, covering pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 years. Overall, 80 of 826 patients (9.7%) tested positive for B19V DNA. A significant increase in positivity was observed in 2024 (23.4%), with a peak in May, representing an eightfold rise compared to 2019–2020. Despite this surge, the distribution of positive cases across population categories remained consistent with previous years, with 32 of 80 (40.0%) positive samples from pregnant women and 27 of 80 (33.8%) from hematology/oncology patients. Among 66 B19V DNA-positive patients with available serology, 4 of 66 (6.1%)—all immunocompromised—lacked detectable IgM/IgG despite high B19V DNA levels (7.8 log<sub>10</sub> IU/mL). These findings highlight the importance of integrating molecular and serological diagnostics, particularly in high-risk populations. Given the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B19V circulation, continued surveillance is essential to determine whether this resurgence represents a temporary fluctuation or a sustained epidemiological shift. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6dab2a403c5a48df89410de4bf73d38a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-6dab2a403c5a48df89410de4bf73d38a2025-08-20T02:25:12ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117452310.3390/v17040523Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024)Flora Marzia Liotti0Simona Marchetti1Sara D’Onghia2Lucio Romano3Rosalba Ricci4Maurizio Sanguinetti5Rosaria Santangelo6Brunella Posteraro7Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, ItalyHuman parvovirus B19 (B19V) follows a well-documented cyclical epidemiology, with peaks occurring every 3–4 years. However, recent reports indicate an unusual resurgence in B19V infections across multiple countries, prompting increased surveillance. This study analyzed molecular diagnostic assay results from 826 unique-patient samples tested for B19V DNA between 2019 and 2024 at a large Italian tertiary-care hospital, covering pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 years. Overall, 80 of 826 patients (9.7%) tested positive for B19V DNA. A significant increase in positivity was observed in 2024 (23.4%), with a peak in May, representing an eightfold rise compared to 2019–2020. Despite this surge, the distribution of positive cases across population categories remained consistent with previous years, with 32 of 80 (40.0%) positive samples from pregnant women and 27 of 80 (33.8%) from hematology/oncology patients. Among 66 B19V DNA-positive patients with available serology, 4 of 66 (6.1%)—all immunocompromised—lacked detectable IgM/IgG despite high B19V DNA levels (7.8 log<sub>10</sub> IU/mL). These findings highlight the importance of integrating molecular and serological diagnostics, particularly in high-risk populations. Given the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B19V circulation, continued surveillance is essential to determine whether this resurgence represents a temporary fluctuation or a sustained epidemiological shift.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/523B19V DNAmolecular detectionpositivity rateepidemiological trendsPCR assayserological assay |
| spellingShingle | Flora Marzia Liotti Simona Marchetti Sara D’Onghia Lucio Romano Rosalba Ricci Maurizio Sanguinetti Rosaria Santangelo Brunella Posteraro Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) Viruses B19V DNA molecular detection positivity rate epidemiological trends PCR assay serological assay |
| title | Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) |
| title_full | Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) |
| title_fullStr | Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) |
| title_short | Compelling Increase in Parvovirus B19 Infections: Analysis of Molecular Diagnostic Trends (2019–2024) |
| title_sort | compelling increase in parvovirus b19 infections analysis of molecular diagnostic trends 2019 2024 |
| topic | B19V DNA molecular detection positivity rate epidemiological trends PCR assay serological assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/523 |
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