Human parvovirus has been known for a number of years to cause mild or
no obvious infection in the mother and cause hydrops fetalis in the
infant.  It must be a rare cause of hydrops, though it has become
prominent because Rh incompatibility has disappeared from the scene.

I think, but cannot remember if this is the right virus, it has been
shown to be the virus that causes aplastic crises in people with sickle
cell disease or other chronic hemolytic anemias.

I have not my books at hand.  Any ID specialists out there?

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC