Are plasma derivatives sources for parvovirus B19 transmission?

ABSTRACT

Parvovirus B19 is known to cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild illness to life threatening disease. The icosahedral nonenveloped B19 virion is resistant to ordinary physicochemical factors, including solvent-detergent treatment. Because of its minute size, 20-25 nm, the pathogen is also relatively resistant to filtration. It can thus be transmitted through blood products to vulnerable recipients in which it causes severe disease. This study aimed at tracking the presence of parvovirus B19 in plasma products available in the local market in Saudi Arabia using nested PCR. Results showed the absence of detectable levels of parvovirus B19 DNA from the tested products. While this is reassuring, it should not entice the authorities to refrain from continuously monitoring blood products for the presence of this virus and thus avoid the possibility of transmission to at-risk individuals