Objective: To evaluate seroprevalence of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG immunoglobulins and the rate of seroconversion in seronegative pregnant women.
Design: Prospective assessment of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG immunoglobulins in an unselected population of pregnant women booked for antenatal care from 1998 to 2000.
Setting: Maternity departments of an academic hospital and four affiliated teaching hospitals in the Netherlands.
Subjects: Two thousand five hundred and sixty seven pregnant women.
Main outcome measures: Seroprevalence of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG immunoglobulin in the first trimester of pregnancy and subsequent seroconversion in those women who were tested negative for parvovirus B19 antibodies in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Results: The estimated seroprevalence of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG immunoglobulins among the study population is 70% (95% CI: 68-71) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Seven hundred and seventy nine women tested negative for parvovirus B19 antibodies in the first trimester of pregnancy. Paired testing in these women confirmed 18 seroconversions. Based on these findings the estimated incidence of maternal parvovirus B19 infection in this population among seronegative Dutch women is 2.4% (95% CI: 1.4-3.7).
Conclusion: Maternal infection with parvovirus B19 is relatively common. However, it is argued that in the Netherlands routine assessment of parvovirus antibodies in pregnant women is not warranted as there is a low risk of adverse fetal outcome and measures to prevent the parvovirus B19 infection and its consequences are very limited.