Although only recently recognized as a human pathogen, parvovirus B19 is now appreciated as a cause of several syndromes in both children and adults.
Respiratory transmission is likely and is facilitated by close contact.
Hospital outbreaks have also been described and are often traced to patients with aplastic crises who carry large amounts of virus in blood and respiratory secretions. Maternal infection can lead to fetal anemia, heart failure, and death resulting in spontaneous abortion, most commonly 4 to 6 weeks after infection. Routine antenatal screening is not recommended. Expression of this glycosphingolipid in tissues helps to determine parvovirus B19 tropism. The rash of erythema infectiosum usually appears without prodromal symptoms after an incubation period of 4 to 14 days.