Current features of the epidemic situation with parvovirus B19 infection: analysis of the situation in the Russian Federation and global trends


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/epidem.2025.15.4.22-30

Lizinfeld I.A., Pshenichnaya N.Yu., Mardoyan G.A., Akimkin V.G.

1) Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; 2) Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia; 3) M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
Objective. Comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological situation with parvovirus B19 infection in the Russian Federation, using Moscow and other countries as examples.
Materials and methods. This article presents a retrospective analysis of anonymized data from the Center for Molecular Diagnostics (CMD) laboratory of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, for 2018–2025. The analysis identified cases of parvovirus infection based on the results of parvovirus B19 DNA PCR testing. The global epidemic situation was analyzed based on publications in international databases and CDC and ECDC reports for 2024–2025. Standard descriptive statistical methods (calculation of means and proportions) were used.
Results. From January 2018 to August 2025, 2,066 positive laboratory results for parvovirus B19 DNA PCR were obtained. Parvovirus infection incidence had a pronounced seasonal pattern, peaking in April–June, with peak activity observed in May. The highest proportion of cases occurred in children aged 0-7 years, while the lowest proportion occurred in elderly patients. Women were more frequently affected. Among all annual PCR tests for parvovirus DNA conducted at the CMD laboratory, the proportion of positive PCR tests ranged from 12-15% during the pandemic (2021-2022) to 38.4% (2023), indicating a true increase in incidence, not just an increase in testing.
Conclusion. The data obtained demonstrate a resumption of active circulation of parvovirus B19 after the decline associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and are consistent with the global trend of increasing incidence in 2023-2024. It is necessary to strengthen epidemiological surveillance for the spread of parvovirus B19 infection, especially in the spring and summer, and develop targeted preventive measures for key at-risk groups – young children and pregnant women.
Keywords: PCR diagnostics, infectious erythema, parvovirus B19, COVID-19, seasonality, epidemiological surveillance, morbidity
Read entire article

Literature

1. Young N.S., Brown K.E. Parvovirus B19. N. Engl. J. Med. 2004; 350(6): 586-597. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra030840


2. Heegaard E.D., Brown K.E. Human parvovirus B19. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2002; 15(3): 485–505. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.3.485-505.2002


3. Nordholm A.C., Møller F.T., Fischer R.S., Sørensen F.L., Moltke-Prehn A., Elskær Mollerup J. et al. Epidemic of parvovirus B19 and disease severity in pregnant people, Denmark, January to March 2024. Euro Surveill. 2024; 29(24): 2400299. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.24.2400299


4. Guillet M., Bas A., Lacoste M., Ricard C., Visse C., Barlet V. et al. New atypical epidemiological profile of parvovirus B19 revealed by molecular screening of blood donations, France, winter 2023/24. Euro Surveill. 2024; 29(21). PMID: 38785091


5. d’Humières C., Fouillet A., Verdurme L., Lakoussan S.B., Gallien Y., Coignard C. et al. An unusual outbreak of parvovirus B19 infections, France, 2023 to 2024. Euro Surveill. 2024; 29(25): 2400339. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.25.2400339


6. Veyrenche N., Fourgeaud J., Burgard M., Allali S., Toubiana J., Pinhas Y. et al. Virological characterization of Parvovirus B19 isolated during the atypical 2023–2024 outbreak in France. J. Infect. 2025; 90(2): 106409. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106409


7. Jiménez Cruz J., Axt-Fliedner R., Berg C., Faschingbauer F., Kagan K.O., Knabl J. et al. Ongoing outbreak of maternal parvovirus B19 infections in Germany since end of 2023: consequence of COVID-19 pandemic? Ultrasound Obstet. Gynecol. 2025; 65(4): 456–461. DOI: 10.1002/uog.29197


8. Tóth F., Moser T., Boros Á., Balázs B., Takáts K., Pankovics P. et al. Seroepidemiology (2018–2024) and epidemic spread of an emerging human parvovirus B19 genotype 1 (subtype 1a2) variant in Hungary, 2023/2024. Arch. Virol. 2025; 170(2): 45. DOI: 10.1007/s00705-025-06228-2


9. Russcher A., van Boven M., Benincà E., Verweij E.J.T.J., Molenaar-de Backer M.W.A., Zaaijer H.L. et al. Changing epidemiology of parvovirus B19 in the Netherlands since 1990, including its re-emergence after the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci. Rep. 2024; 14(1): 9630. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59582-7


10. Patalon T., Saciuk Y., Trotzky D., Pachys G., Ben-Tov A., Segal Y. et al. An outbreak of Parvovirus B19 in Israel. Viruses. 2023; 15(11): 2261. DOI: 10.3390/v15112261


11. Yee M.E.M., Kalmus G.G., Patel A.P., Payne J.N., Tang A., Gee B.E. et al. Notes from the Field: Increase in Diagnoses of Human Parvovirus B19-Associated Aplastic Crises in Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease - Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 2023–September 30, 2024. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2024; 73(47): 1090–1091. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7347a5


12. Alfego D., Hernandez-Romieu A.C., Briggs-Hagen M., Dietz S., Gillim L., Dale S.E. et al. Detection of Increased Activity of Human Parvovirus B19 Using Commercial Laboratory Testing of Clinical Samples and Source Plasma Donor Pools - United States, 2024. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2024; 73(47): 1076–1081. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7347a2


13. Alves A.D.R., Amado L.A. A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Parvovirus B19 in Brazil: A Hidden and Neglected Virus Among Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Individuals. Viruses 2025; 17(3): 303. DOI: 10.3390/v17030303


14. Mor O., Wax M., Arami S.S., Yitzhaki M., Kriger O., Erster O. et al. Parvovirus B19 Outbreak in Israel: Retrospective Molecular Analysis from 2010 to 2023. Viruses. 2024; 16(3): 480. DOI: 10.3390/v16030480


15. Tonon M., Panaite S.A., Gentili D., Ferraresso A., Da Re F., Ballarin D. et al. Retrospective and Prospective Surveillance and Clinical Presentation of Parvovirus B19 in Veneto, Italy, 2024. Microorganisms 2025; 13(2): 430. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13020430


16. Pshenichnaya N., Ionova R., Lizinfeld I. Characteristics of Parvovirus B19 infection presentation in adults versus children. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2025; 152: 107516. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107516


17. Maison N., Peck A., Illi S., Meyer-Buehn M., von Mutius E., Hübner J. The rising of old foes: impact of lockdown periods on “non-SARS-CoV-2” viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Infection 2022; 50(2): 519–524. DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01756-4


18. Maison N., Omony J., Rinderknecht S., Kolberg L., Meyer-Bühn M., von Mutius E. et al. Old foes following new ways? Pandemic-related changes in the epidemiology of viral respiratory tract infections. Infection 2024; 52(1): 209–218. DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02085-w


About the Autors

Irina A. Lizinfeld, Cand. Med. Sci., Consultant, Organizational and Methodological Department, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia; irinalizinfeld@gmail.com; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8114-1002
Professor Natalya Yu. Pshenichnaya, МD, Deputy Director for Clinical and Analytical Work, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; Head, Department of Infectious Diseases, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education; Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia; natalia-pshenichnaya@yandex.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2570-711X
Gor A. Mardoyan - 1C Programmer, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; mardoian@cmd.su; https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9101-8638
Professor Vasily G. Аkimkin, Academician of the Russian Academy, МD, Director, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; vgakimkin@yandex.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-00033-4228-9044


Similar Articles

Back to Content

Бионика Медиа