Age-related immunoglobulin G seroprevalence of human parvovirus B-19 in Israeli children.

BACKGROUND: Human parvovirus B19 is a global and common infectious pathogen in humans, particularly in children. OBJECTIVES: To assess the immunoglobulin G3 seroprevalence of B19 in children in Israel. METHODS: Overall, 128 previously healthy children (1.5-17 years old) hospitalized for various diseases other than acute human parvovirus B19 infection were assessed for IgG to the virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The IgG seroprevalence increased from 22% in children aged 1.5-9 years to 52% in older children (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that most acute parvovirus B19 infections in Israel occur in the early school years, and that by 18 years of age 50% of Israeli children have been infected by the virus.