The Simian Parvoviruses

Autonomous parvoviruses with tropism for erythroid cells have recently been reclassified in a new genus, erythrovirus. Although B19 is the type member, and presently the only internationally accepted member of the erythrovirus genus, we have identified three new simian viruses, all of which have the molecular features of parvoviruses, and are highly tropic for erythroid progenitor cells. This review describes the identification of these new animal parvoviruses and summarises current knowledge of their molecular, clinical and epidemiological features. Most studies have been performed with the first virus discovered, simian parvovirus (SPV), which was isolated from anaemic cynomolgus monkeys. SPV is currently under investigation as an animal model for B19 parvovirus infection. Clinical similarities and molecular homology to parvovirus B19 justify the inclusion of these novel viruses as new members of the erythrovirus genus. Copyright 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.