Rubella seroepidemiology in 0-45 years old no vaccinated population and determining the best national immunization strategy: a community survey, Uremia, Iran

• Main Authors: Farrokh Slamloo H.R, Eftekhar H, Holakouei Naeini K, Rahimi Foroushani
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research 2002-07-01
• Series: Payesh
• Subjects: rubella; infection; immunity; seroprevalence; seropositivity
• Online Access: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-865-en.html

Objcctive(s): To determine age-specific rubella seroprevalence in the O to 45 years-old unvaccinated population in Uremia, Iran and also to propose a vaccination strategy against rubella this study designed. Material & Methods: A total of 770 unvaccinated persons O to 45 years old were selected for the study with cluster sampling. Sera from 392 females and 378 males were tested for rubella IgG antibody using enzyme linked immonosurbent assay (ELIZA) technique. Rubella seropositivity was defined as serum rubella IgG antibody level> or= I 3IU/ml. Results: Of the 770 cases, 58.1 % were seropositive. Due to maternal derived antibodies, 100% of the newborns was seropositive. This figure decreased with time until it became zero in children aged 9 months.  Then from years 4 increased with age gradually until it peaked at 93.4% in the age group of 15- 19 years. The seropositivity decreased to 85.7%   in   the age group   of >35 years.  Of women in the reproductive age groups (15-45years old), 89.6% were seropositive. Conclusion:-. Because a substantial proportion of women in their childbearing years are susceptible to rubella, immunization efforts should be directed at infants and/or prepubertal children.