Frequency of human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) viremia among HBV-infected patients and healthy donors in Shiraz, Iran.

BACKGROUND/AIM: PARV4, a small DNA virus belonging to the family Parvoviridae , was first isolated in an HBV injecting drug user. Several studies have investigated PARV4 co-infection with HBV and HCV and its effect on the progression of liver disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of PARV4 among HBV-infected patients and healthy individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 90 HBV patients and a group of 90 healthy subjects were included in this study. Samples were selected after screening tests such as HBsAg ELISA, anti-HCV ELISA, and anti-HIV ELISA. Nested-PCRs were conducted to detect the PARV4 genome. Positive samples were then subjected to DNA sequencing.

RESULTS: PARV4 DNA was detected in 4.4% of HBV patients in comparison with 1.1% of healthy individuals (P-value: 0.36). DNA sequencing results revealed that PARV4 in all five positive samples was genotype I.Conclusions: Although this pilot study showed no significant difference between the frequency of PARV4 among HBV patients and healthy donors, further studies with a larger sample size are suggested to determine the association of PARV4 with HBV co-infection and the impact of this virus on the progression of liver disease in patients with hepatitis B.