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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: December 30, 2025
Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy studied by maternal viral load and immune responses
Timo R de Haan1, Matthias F C Beersma, Eric C J Claas
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Objectives:
Facilitate risk assessment of vital complications in fetuses of pregnancies affected by acute parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection.
Design:
Study of the natural course of maternal B19V infection in four cases, from early pregnancy on.
Setting:
University Medical Center in the Netherlands.
Population:
Pregnant mothers attending obstetric services.
Methods:
Serial measurements of the maternal and fetal or neonatal viral load and antibody responses.
Main Outcome Measures:
Maternal and fetal/neonatal serum B19V viral DNA load and specific IgM and IgG antibodies in maternal serum.
Results:
Peak viral load levels occurred within 1 week after maternal infection and peak IgM levels were observed 1 week after the peak viral load levels. Approximation of IgG and IgM ratios usually took place 4 weeks after infection. Vertical transmission occurred 1-3 weeks after maternal infection, suggesting that fetal infection occurs during the maternal peak viral load.
Conclusions:
Maternal B19V DNA load levels and IgM responses are useful to estimate the risk of parvovirus B19-associated fetal complications. The maternal peak viral load directly precedes the onset of fetal infection and may be used to indicate the stage of intrauterine B19V infection.
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