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Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

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Published on: November 20, 2015

Fetal brain infection with human parvovirus B19

H Isumi1, T Nunoue, A Nishida

  • 1Department of Mental Retardation, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.

Pediatric Neurology
|October 8, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection can cause fetal hydrops and significant brain abnormalities. This study found evidence of parvovirus B19 in fetal brain cells, indicating a link to neuropathology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropathology
  • Viral Infections
  • Fetal Development

Background:

  • Intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection is a known cause of hydrops fetalis.
  • Limited data exists on the central nervous system (CNS) pathology associated with fetal parvovirus B19 infection.

Observation:

  • Postmortem examination of a fetus with hydrops fetalis revealed characteristic neuropathologic findings.
  • Multinucleated giant cells and microcalcifications were observed, primarily in the cerebral white matter.

Findings:

  • Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in the nuclei of giant cells and endothelial cells using PCR.
  • Viral capsid antigen was identified in endothelial cell cytoplasm via immunofluorescence.

Implications:

  • Intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection is associated with significant neuropathologic changes in the developing fetal brain.
  • Neurologic monitoring is crucial for infants surviving intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection.

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