Human parvovirus B19 is a recently discovered and characterized DNA virus. B19 infection in the community is common and widespread. A number of well-known clinical syndromes have now been ascribed to B19 infection. Of rheumatologic interest, B19 infection causes adult erythema infectiosum which may be associated with a rheumatoid-like syndrome of symmetric polyarthralgia and polyarthritis. Presenting symptoms and signs may be limited to the joints. Some adults develop a chronic arthropathy that needs to be differentiated from early classic rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence for persistent B19 infection suggests that human parvovirus B19 infection may serve as a model for the study of virus-host interactions and the role of viruses in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.