Varicella zoster virus in American Samoa: seroprevalence and predictive value of varicella disease history in elementary and college students
Authors:
- 26 July 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Epidemiology and Infection
- Vol. 142 (5) , 1002-1007
Abstract
SUMMARY The epidemiology of varicella is believed to differ between temperate and tropical countries. We conducted a varicella seroprevalence study in elementary and college students in the US territory of American Samoa before introduction of a routine varicella vaccination programme. Sera from 515 elementary and 208 college students were tested for the presence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG antibodies. VZV seroprevalence increased with age from 76·0% in the 4–6 years group to 97·7% in those aged ⩾23 years. Reported history of varicella disease for elementary students was significantly associated with VZV seropositivity. The positive and negative predictive values of varicella disease history were 93·4% and 36·4%, respectively, in elementary students and 97·6% and 3·0%, respectively, in college students. VZV seroprevalence in this Pacific island appears to be similar to that in temperate countries and suggests endemic VZV circulation.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Near Elimination of Varicella Deaths in the US After Implementation of the Vaccination ProgramPediatrics, 2011
- Varicella-Related Hospitalizations in the United States, 2000–2006: The 1-Dose Varicella Vaccination EraPediatrics, 2011
- Impact of Varicella Vaccine on Varicella-Zoster Virus DynamicsClinical Microbiology Reviews, 2010
- Varicella Prevention in the United States: A Review of Successes and ChallengesPediatrics, 2008
- Changing Varicella Epidemiology in Active Surveillance Sites—United States, 1995–2005The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2008
- An Economic Analysis of the Universal Varicella Vaccination Program in the United StatesThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2008
- The comparative sero-epidemiology of varicella zoster virus in 11 countries in the European regionVaccine, 2007
- Performance of a Time-Resolved Fluorescence Immunoassay for Measuring Varicella-Zoster Virus Immunoglobulin G Levels in Adults and Comparison with Commercial Enzyme Immunoassays and Merck Glycoprotein Enzyme ImmunoassayClinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2006
- Varicella Zoster Virus2002
- The age of infection with varicella-zoster virus in St Lucia, West IndiesEpidemiology and Infection, 1993