Epidemiological analysis of immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases:rubella, measles, mumps and varicella zoster virus

Background and objective: Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella zoster viru s (VZV) infections are regarded as typical diseases of childhood: They are normally clinically mild and result in lifelong immunity. Severe clinical d isease is known in immunocompromised patients; rubella virus infections dur ing pregnancy often result in congenital rubella syndrome. All these diseas es are preventable by vaccination which is recommended in Germany, recently vaccination against VZV for teenager without immunity since July 2001. In the following study we screened for immunity against the four viruses. Patients and methods: Serum samples were obtained at the Institute of Medic al Virology Frankfurt/Main from January 1999 until December 2000. We tested for specific antibodies against measles (n=915), against mumps (n=857), ag ainst rubella (n=1886) and against VZV (n=2291). Seroprevalences were deter mined in different age groups. Results: Altogether the highest rate of seronegatives is detected in younge r children. VZV-seronegativity rates decrease from 74% to 32% in younger ch ildren. Against rubella also in this age group rate of seronegatives is fou nd in 40% and less than 10% by teenagers. From this age group also immunity against rubella is found approximately in 80% of seropositives. Conclusions: The following study shows that high seronegative rates are det ectable, and here specially against VZV-specific antibodies. For seronegati ve teenagers, vaccination against VZV is now recommended in Germany. Immuni zation rates of at least 95% in childhood would be effective in avoiding se vere courses of disease and giving protection in pregnancy.