Seroepidemiology of varicella among elementary school children in northern Taiwan

• Published in: Journal of microbiology, immunology and infection immunology and infection, 2017-06, Vol.50 (3), p.321-326
• Main Authors: Lin, Ming-Ru, Kuo, Ching-Chia, Hsieh, Yu-Chia, Huang, Ya-Ling, Huang, Yu-Chiau, Hung, Yung-Tai, Huang, Yhu-Chering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Chickenpox - immunology; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Humans; Immunization Programs; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infectious Disease; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Medical Education; school children; Schools; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroepidemiology; Students; Taiwan; Taiwan - epidemiology; varicella
• ISSN: 1684-1182; 1995-9133
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2015.07.007

Abstract Background/Purpose In Taiwan, varicella vaccine was included in the expanded program of immunization since 2004. A seroepidemiologic study in the postvaccine era is helpful to evaluate the efficiency of current varicella vaccination strategies. Methods We used a multistage stratified systematic sampling design to classify 29 administrative districts of New Taipei City into five strata. In 2013, a total of 936 students from 14 primary schools were recruited and had blood drawn for serology tests for varicella-zoster virus-immunoglobulin-G via indirect chemiluminescence immunoassays. A history of clinical varicella and information on varicella vaccination status were obtained. Results Overall, the seroprevalence was 64.1%. For the five strata, the seropositive rate ranged from 54.2% (Stratum 5) to 71.7% (Stratum 2) with no significant difference. For each participating school, the seropositive rate ranged from 44.4% to 72.9% with a statistically significant difference ( p