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Parvovirus B19V (B19V) infection during pregnancy can be complicated by potentially life-threatening fetal hydrops, which can be managed by intrauterine transfusion (IUT). This study investigates the long-term temporal patterns in the epidemiology of B19V and evaluates the impact on fetal hydrops, by combining data on B19V infections from the Dutch Sentinel Surveillance system in the period 1990 to 2023, Dutch blood banking data and hospital data on fetal hydrops. Using wavelet analysis, we identified annual epidemic cycles in the Netherlands in the period 1990–2019 and we identified superimposed multiannual cycles in the period 1990–2009. After 2009, no multiannual cycle could be identified, although the incidence fluctuated and correlates with number of IUT performed. As of 2020, weekly reports of B19V infection demonstrated a historically low incidence and B19V-DNA positive blood donors were nearly absent. From May 2020 to May 2023, no IUT for B19V-related hydrops was performed. In the spring of 2023, B19V infections re-emerged, reaching pre-pandemic epidemic levels. Due to the changes in B19V epidemiology over the last 30 years and the near-absence of B19V during the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting low immunity levels may lead to rebound outbreaks. Alertness to severe complications such as fetal hydrops is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus (pH1N1) contains novel gene segments of zoonotic origin that lack virulence and antiviral resistance markers. We aimed to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of mass spectrometry-based comparative sequence analysis (MSCSA) to detect genetic mutations associated with increased virulence or antiviral resistance in pH1N1. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, routine surveillance specimens and clinical antiviral resistance monitoring specimens were analyzed. Routine surveillance specimens obtained from 70 patients with pH1N1 infection were evaluated for mutations associated with increased virulence (PB1-F2, PB2 and NS1 genes) or antiviral resistance (neuraminidase gene, NA) using MSCSA and Sanger sequencing. MSCSA and Sanger sequencing results revealed a high concordance (nucleotides >99%, SNPs ∼94%). Virulence or resistance markers were not detected in routine surveillance specimens: all identified SNPs encoded for silent mutations or non-relevant amino acid substitutions. In a second study population, the presence of H275Y oseltamivir resistant virus was identified by real-time PCR in 19 of 35 clinical antiviral resistance monitoring specimens obtained from 4 immunocompromised patients with ≥14 days prolonged pH1N1 excretion. MSCSA detected H275Y in 24% (4/19) of positive specimens and Sanger sequencing in 89% (17/19). MSCSA only detected H275Y when the mutation was dominant in the analyzed specimens. In conclusion, MSCSA may be used as a rapid screening tool during molecular surveillance of pH1N1. The low sensitivity for the detection of H275Y mutation in mixed viral populations suggests that MSCSA is not suitable for antiviral resistance monitoring in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors that cause prolonged human influenza virus respiratory tract infection and determine its clinical impact and the development of drug-resistant viruses are unclear. During a 3-year period, symptomatic influenza virus excretion for ⩾2 weeks was observed among 8 immunocompromised patients and found to be associated with lymphocytopenia at onset (8 of 8 patients) more often than with granulocytopenia (2 of 8 patients) or monocytopenia (2 of 8 patients). Six (75%) of 8 patients developed influenza lower respiratory tract infection (10 episodes), and receipt of oseltamivir treatment was significantly associated with clinical improvement (8 of 8 episodes vs. 0 of 2 untreated episodes; P = .02). Complete viral clearance was strongly correlated with lymphocyte reconstitution (P = .04) but was never observed during the first 2 weeks after oseltamivir treatment. Neuraminidase inhibitor-resistant influenza viruses emerged in 2 (67%) of 3 patients eligible for resistance analysis. In conclusion, prolonged influenza virus infection was associated with lymphocytopenia, influenza lower respiratory tract infection, and frequent development of drug resistance during antiviral therapy. Clinical improvement in influenza lower respiratory tract infection is observed during oseltamivir treatment, but complete viral clearance is dependent on lymphocyte reconstitution, irrespective of receipt of antiviral medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]