ABSTRACT
PATHOGEN Human parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus. Parvovirus B19 is the only known parvovirus which is a human pathogen.
INCIDENCE/EPIDEMIOLOGY The incidence of acute primary maternal parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy in susceptible women is about 1% to 1.5% (1,2). The parvovirus B19-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroconversion incidence in susceptible pregnant women (primary infection) goes from 1% to 1.5% during endemic to 13% to 13.5% during epidemic periods (2). Approximately 50% to 75% of women of reproductive age are IgG+ (immune) for parvovirus B19, with approximately 25% to 50%
of women being susceptible to parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy (1).
