Seroepidemiological survey of rubella immunity among three populations in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

ABSTRACT

We used indirect ELISA assay to test 1193 sera for rubella IgG and IgM antibodies in a seroepidemiological survey of three age- and gender-differentiated sample populations in Shiraz 203 children aged 2-7 years, 255 paired mothers and neonates [cord blood] and 480 women aged 14-70 years. Seropositivity among women aged 14-70 years was 96.2%. No IgM positive case was found among the 255 tested cord blood samples. Seropositivity among the 203 children was 97.0% [much higher than previously reported]. This may be due to rubella epidemics, which tend to occur every 6-10 years. The impact of introducing rubella vaccination is discussed