[Parvovirus B19 in the Czech Republic. Seroepidemiologic study]

Erythema infectiosum which is caused by parvovirus B 19 is notified in the Czech Republic similarly as some other viral exanthemas under the diagnosis "Other viral infections affecting the skin and mucosae, not listed elsewhere" (B08). Analysis of the epidemiological position in the Czech Republic in 1993-1995 was based on EPIDAT data, documentation of epidemic of 1993 in the Liberec district and serologically confirmed minor epidemics (1994, 1995). An increased number of cases (in particular in late winter and early spring) is observed in several years' (cca four-year) cycles and only in some districts. Children aged 3-10 years (88.2%) are affected predominantly. All the year round however sporadic cases affecting people of all age groups are notified. Concurrent illness of several family members (usually two) was confirmed by laboratory tests only in 9 of cca 200 investigated cases. The source of infection is usually not identified. The increase in the number of cases in a given locality rose rapidly after brief time intervals. The longest interval between two cases was 24 days. In families all affected members contracted the disease with 24 hours. According to the seroprevalence of the IgG parvovirus B 19 in different age groups the majority of cases in subadult and adult subjects is not diagnosed and notified. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies of the parvovirus B 19 in subjects with arthropathies was 72.4%, in subjects with suspect borreliosis 69.9% an in the normal population cca 50%.