Back to Search
Start Over
Varicella susceptibility and transmission dynamics in Slovenia.
- Source :
- BMC Public Health; 2010, Vol. 10 Issue 1, p360-365, 6p, 2 Charts, 1 Graph
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>A cross-sectional, age-stratified study was conducted to determine varicella-zoster seroprevalence and force of infection in Slovenia.<bold>Methods: </bold>3689 serum samples were tested for VZV IgG antibodies with an enzyme immunoassay. Semiparametric and parametric modelling were used to estimate the force of infection.<bold>Results: </bold>Overall, 85.6% of serum samples were seropositive. Age-specific prevalence rose rapidly in preschool children and over 90% of 8 years old tested positive for VZV. However, 2.8% of serum samples among women of childbearing age were seronegative. Semiparametric modelling yielded force of infection estimates of 0.182 (95% CI 0.158-0.206), 0.367 (95% CI 0.285-0.448) and 0.008 (95% CI 0.0-0.032) for age groups 0.5- < 6, 6-11 and >or=12 years, respectively, and 0.175 (95% CI 0.147-0.202), 0.391 (95% CI 0.303-0.480) and 0.025 (95% CI 0.003-0.046) for age groups 0.5- < 5, 5-9 and >or=10 years, respectively.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Regardless of the age grouping used, the highest transmission occurred in children in their first years of school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- IMMUNOGLOBULINS
BLOOD proteins
PLASMA cells
MEDICAL research
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 52840003
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-360