Parvovirus B19: a Clinical and Diagnostic Review

Parvovirus B19 is a small, non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus with global distribution. It is primarily known for being the causative agent of fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, a common self-limiting childhood disease characterized by the development of a rash. During infection, it targets erythroid progenitor cells in bone marrow, where it replicates and ultimately induces cellular apoptosis. In the correct patient population, it may be responsible for the development of arthropathy, aplastic crisis, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, viral-associated hepatitis, and myocarditis. However, most infections are asymptomatic and remain undetected. Here, we review the nature of this virus to provide information about its biology; interactions with the human host; how those interactions shape the clinical presentation; and, finally, the available diagnostic approaches.