Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Parvovirus B19 among Children in Papua New Guinea

Parvovirus B19 (B19) is a common childhood infection that has recently been found to be associated with severe anemia in Papua New Guinean children. Population surveys were performed in 15 villages in Maprik district, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea in 2005. Plasma samples collected from children less than 10 years of age were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies to B19 by enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of IgG antibody to B19 was 53.8% and ranged from 20% in those less than one year of age to 85.5% in those nine years of age. Considerable variation in IgG prevalence was observed between study areas, indicating complex patterns of transmission. Prevalence of IgM antibody to B19 was 1.5%. This study confirms that B19 infection is common among children in this tropical area. With 19.5% of children one year of age showing evidence of previous infection, any preventive measures should be targeted at the very young.