Prevalence Of Rubella Antibodies Research Articles

Prevalence of Rubella Antibodies among Fertile Women in the West of Romania, 18 Years after the Implementation of Immunization.

Seronegative women are susceptible to primary rubella virus (RV) infection during pregnancy, which can cause fetal damage. Vaccination represents the main strategy in rubella prevention. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the rubella seroprevalence and identify populations with a high susceptibility to RV. A cross-sectional study was performed on 6914 Caucasian fertile women who had Toxoplasma gondii, other viruses, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and the herpes simplex virus (TORCH) screening in two distinct periods—1452 at the Timișoara Municipal Hospital, Romania (Group 1: 2008–2010) and 5462 at the laboratory Bioclinica S.A., Timișoara, Romania (Group 2: 2015–2018). The RV seroprevalence decreased (Group 1 versus Group 2; 94.1% (92.7–95.2) versus 91.4% (90.6–92.1), OR = 0.76 (p = 0.0007)). According to the year of birth and eligibility to vaccination program, RV seroprevalence rates were 82.4% (76.8–86.8)/1997–2004, 85.4% (80.5–89.3)/1995–1996, 90.1% (89.0–91.1)/<1989, and 95.8% (94.7–96.6)/1989–1994. No significant difference in the RV seropositivity according to the place of residence was found. The overall RV susceptibility increased from 2008–2010 to 2015–2018. The highest susceptibility was found in women born between 1997–2004 eligible for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine through the family practice system and the lowest in women born between 1989–1994 eligible for monovalent rubella vaccine conducted in schools.

Prevalence of Rubella Antibodies Among Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

While generally mild in children, rubella infection in early pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, fetal death or congenital rubella syndrome. Rubella vaccination is not yet available as a part of routine immunization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the burden of infection is unknown. In collaboration with the 2013-2014 DRC Demographic and Health Survey, a serosurvey was carried out to assess population immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. Dry blood spot samples collected from children 6-59 months of age were processed using the Dynex Technologies Multiplier FLEX chemiluminescent immunoassay platform (Dynex Technologies, Chantilly, VA). Among the 7195 6- to 59-month-old children, 33% were positive and <1% indeterminate for rubella antibodies in weighted analyses. Seroprevalence was positively associated with age of the child and province, with seropositivity highest in Bandundu (53%) and lowest in Kasai-Oriental (20%). In multivariate analyses, serologic evidence of infection was associated with age of the mother and child, socioeconomic status and geographic location. Rubella infection is prevalent among children in the DRC, and while most seroconversion occurs in young children, a significant proportion of children remain at risk and may enter reproductive age susceptible to rubella infection. While not currently in place, implementation of a surveillance program will provide improved estimates of both rubella virus circulation and the burden of congenital rubella syndrome. Such information will play an important role in future policy decisions, vaccine delivery strategies and may provide a basis upon which the effectiveness of rubella antigen introduction may be assessed.

Seroprevalence of rubella antibodies among adult Egyptian females aged 20-30 years. Is there a need for rubella vaccination?

Egypt adopted a comprehensive strategy to eliminate measles and rubella by conducting a catch up campaign (in 2008) targeting children and young adults in the age group 10-19 years. This study aimed to explore the seroprevalence of rubella among females aged 20 to 30 years in order to provide the Ministry of Health with information to develop future strategies for rubella supplemental immunization activities among women of childbearing age before marriage and conception. A total of 339 females in the age group 20 to 30 were selected. The study group comprised women who attended the central laboratory of the Ministry of Health for checking up before travelling abroad as pre-travel requirements for visa application. The collected serum samples were tested for rubella-specific IgG antibodies. The overall prevalence of rubella antibodies in the study group was 88.2%. Around 5.0% of females, who reported that they had been vaccinated, were susceptible to rubella. Age, history of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and past history of rubella infection were considered factors associated with seropositivity for rubella. The seroprevalence rate of rubella antibodies among our female study group was considered low.

Apropos “Congenital rubella syndrome and immunity status of immigrant women living in southern Italy: A cross-sectional, seroepidemiological investigation”

Summary Objectives A National Programme to eliminate Measles and Congenital Rubella was implemented in Italy in 2003. It aimed to achieve elimination by 2010 in line with the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies in samples of immigrant women living in southern Italy. Method A seroepidemiologic study was conducted from 1 January 2008 to June 30 2009. 489 immigrant women resident in Messina were enrolled in the study. The detection of rubella antibodies was performed using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data including age, country of origin, educational level and knowledge about rubella. Results The results of the seroepidemiological survey to detect rubella antibodies showed an overall seropositivity rate of 82.2%. Generally, knowledge about rubella and congenital rubella syndrome was lacking. Conclusion Many immigrants are susceptible to rubella and may benefit from vaccination programmes. Additional catch-up vaccination strategies are urgently needed to eliminate the risk of congenital rubella syndrome for future generations.

SEROPREVALENCE TO RUBELLA VIRUS POST MMR VACCINATION IN BASRAH, SOUTHERN IRAQ

A seroepidemiological study was carried out in Basrah from October 2003 to October 2004. The study aimed on determination of the prevalence of rubella IgG antibody among children under 15 years of age and females at childbearing age, rates of vaccination and provide information on immunity gap in certain age groups post vaccination and to estimate the duration of vaccine induced immunity and the rate of overtime loss of rubella antibody post vaccination. A total of 1309 blood samples were collected beside 80 pairs of blood samples from children and 77 samples from females at childbearing age. Specimens were collected from primary health care centers and primary schools. An Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used for detection of rubella IgG antibody. The overall vaccination coverage was 78.9% leaving 21.1% unvaccinated. There were a variation in vaccination coverage in different age groups, 66.9% among 2-5 years old children, 85% of 6-8 years old and 83.2% of 10-14 years old. The prevalence of rubella antibody and vaccination coverage in rural areas (37.6%) is significantly (P

&lt;p&gt;Congenital rubella syndrome in Iran&lt;/p&gt;

Background: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can be prevented with appropriate vaccination programs. The prevalence rates of rubella and CRS in Iran are unknown; therefore, the risk of exposure in pregnant women is not clear. The prevalence of CRS in the pre-vaccine period can be estimated by evaluating the proportion of children in the population with sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella.&#x0D; Methods: This was a case-control study to estimate prevalence of CRS in Tehran (Iran) by evaluating the proportion of children with sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella. The study used rubella antibody titer as an indicator, and compared the prevalence of rubella antibody between children with and without sensorineural hearing loss. Using these findings, the proportion of cases of sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella was estimated.&#x0D; Results: A total of 225 children aged 1 to 4 years were entered into the study (113 cases and 112 controls). There was a significant difference between cases and controls with regard to rubella antibody seropositivity (19.5% vs. 8.9%, respectively, odds ratio = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.04- 5.97). The proportion of sensorineural hearing loss cases attributable to rubella was found to be 12%, corresponding to a CRS prevalence of 0.2/1000.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of CRS was approximately 0.2/1000 before rubella vaccination in Iran. Moreover; the results suggest that implementation of appropriate rubella vaccination programs could potentially prevent about 12% of cases of sensorineural hearing loss in Iranian children. This data could potentially be used as baseline data, which in conjunction with an appropriate method, to establish a surveillance system for rubella vaccination in Iran. An appropriate surveillance system is needed, because the introduction of a rubella vaccine without epidemiological data and an adequate monitoring program could result in the shifting of rubella cases to higher ages, and increasing the incidence of CRS.&#x0D; Published courtesy of:BMC Infect Dis. 2005, 6;5(1):44

Prevalence of rubella antibody in pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria

There is a dearth of information on the incidence and prevalence of rubella infection in Nigeria. The risk of congenital rubella in sero-negative pregnant women has been found to produce congenital abnormalities even in developed countries. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of rubella virus antibody in pregnant women. The place of study is the antenatal care clinic of Adeoyo State Hospital, Ibadan. This is a cross-sectional study of primigravida women attending the antenatal care facilities in a general hospital The rubella IgG antibody of the women was detected in sera using the RUB IgG Test kit. This is a quantitative ELISA technique. The prevalence of rubella antibody in 159 pregnant women that participated in this study was 68.5% with a confidence interval of 64.8% - 72.2%. Women living in rural -urban areas have statistically significant higher prevalence of antibody than those in urban areas. This prevalence of rubella antibody in pregnant women suggests 1 in 4 pregnant woman is susceptible and the foetus at risk of congenital rubella malformation.

Prevalence of rubella antibodies in a non-immunized urban population, São Paulo, Brazil. The Division of Immunization, CVE.

The prevalence of rubella antibodies was evaluated through a random seroepidemiological survey in 1400 blood samples of 2-14 year old children and in 329 samples of umbilical cord serum. Rubella IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA, and the sera were collected in 1987, five years before the mass vaccination campaign with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine carried out in the city of São Paulo in 1992. A significant increase in prevalence of rubella infection was observed after 6 years of age, and 77% of the individuals aged from 15 to 19 years had detectable rubella antibodies. However, the seroprevalence rose to 90.5% (171/189) in cord serum samples from children whose mothers were 20 to 29 years old, and reached 95.6% in newborns of mothers who were 30 to 34 years old, indicating that a large number of women are infected during childbearing years. This study confirms that rubella infection represents an important Public Health problem in São Paulo city. The data on the seroprevalence of rubella antibodies before the mass vaccination campaign reflects the baseline immunological status of this population before any intervention and should be used to design an adequate vaccination strategy and to assess the seroepidemiological impact of this intervention.

Prevalence of rubella antibodies on the African continent.

Until recently, data on the epidemiology of rubella in Africa have been very scarce. However, several seroepidemiologic surveys within the last 10 years show that the virus is prevalent throughout Africa. In most of Africa rubella is contracted early in life; in areas such as the Gambia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Mali, and parts of Kenya greater than 80% of children are immune to the virus by 10 years of age, and this level increases through adulthood. Most studies show that greater than 80% of pregnant women are immune to rubella.

Significance of rubella virus infection in juvenile chronic polyarthritis.

Fifty-three patients under the age of 5 years with definite juvenile chronic polyarthritis (JCP) were examined for serological evidence of rubella infection. The prevalence of rubella antibody was found to be low and did not differ significantly from that found in normal children of similar age. Patients with JCP and antibody to rubella virus had a clinical course indistinguishable from those with no detectable rubella antibody.