Detection of human parvovirus B19 in early spontaneous abortuses using serology, histology, electron microscopy, in situ hybridization, and the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 DNA was found in two of 80 early spontaneous abortuses. Although viral DNA was detected in two cases, there was no clear evidence that the infections caused fetal death. Neither case showed erythroblastosis with large numbers of inclusions, as is seen in hydropic fetuses with parvovirus infection. In addition, in five cases in which parvovirus infection was not documented serologically or by the polymerase chain reaction, there was erythroid nuclear clearing suggestive of parvovirus B19 inclusions. This indicates that histologic evaluation for parvoviral inclusions is not always reliable in early spontaneous abortuses.