Blood group can predict risk of contracting viral disease

Blood group can predict risk of contracting viral disease
Age, temporal dynamics, and blood group associations with adult B19V infection in blood donations. B19V DNA positive plasma donations were plotted relative to the total cohort (black line=relative frequency) by (A) age, (B) year, and (C) month. (D) Distribution of B19V infections by sex, Rh(D) factor, and ABO blood group. (E) Comparison of viral load, as quantitated by Cp value between ABO blood groups and the sexes (n.s.). n.s., not significant; p<0.03 . Credit: The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2022). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac456

The risk of being infected by parvovirus is elevated in those people who have blood group Rh(D), according to a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers from Karolinska Institutetin Sweden in collaboration with Octapharma.

Fifth disease is a viral disease caused by parvovirus. Most often, are affected with common symptoms such as red blotches on the cheeks that can also spread to the arms and legs. Even adults can become infected, but many do not show any symptoms.

In a new study, researchers can now demonstrate that the risk of contracting the disease is elevated if the person belongs to the blood group Rhesus D antigen or what is called Rh(D). In addition to the blood typing in the ABO system, the Rh system is the most common.

All infected belonged to Rh(D)

More than 160,000 blood donors in Germany were screened for parvovirus between 2015 and 2018. Of the , 22 people were infected with the virus. All infected persons belonged to the Rh(D).

"It is a significant finding that has not yet been described that could mean that Rh(D) is important when the virus enters the and also may be a new, as of yet unidentified cellular receptor for the virus," says Rasmus Gustafsson, affiliated researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and project manager at Octapharma.

Women were over-represented

The researchers were also able to see that the risk of infection was elevated during the summer months. In addition, women as well as people aged 31 to 40 have an increased risk of infection.

"At that age, there are usually toddlers around. We already know that get infected in preschool and then infect their parents. So, the age and gender distribution can be a reflection of the fact that to a greater extent than men work in the care professions and look after children," says Rasmus Gustafsson.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the company Octapharma, where several of the co-authors are active.

More information: Katie Healy et al, Prevalence of parvovirus B19 viraemia among German blood donations and the relationship to ABO and Rhesus blood group antigens, The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2022). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac456

Journal information: Journal of Infectious Diseases
Citation: Blood group can predict risk of contracting viral disease (2022, November 25) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-blood-group-viral-disease.html
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