Pathophysiology of Erythema Infectiosum Parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus that causes transient suppression of erythropoiesis that is mild and asymptomatic except in children with underlying hemoglobinopathies (eg, sickle cell disease) or other red blood cell (RBC) disorders (eg, hereditary spherocytosis), who may develop transient aplastic crisis.