RESUMO
To determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies and age of exposure to rubella among Yemeni schoolgirls, we studied the sera samples of 323 female students (age range 11-21 years; mean age 16.26 +/- 1.89 years) drawn from three schools in Sana'a. All samples were screened for rubella IgG antibodies using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and, if negative, for IgM in order to exclude the possibility of recent exposure. Of 323 sera, 296 (91.64%) were positive for rubella IgG. All IgG negative sera were also IgM negative. Comparable antibody prevalence was observed in all age groups. The prevalence of rubella IgG among Yemeni schoolgirls is high, with most becoming immune between the ages of 11 and 21 years. Although the age of exposure seems to be < or = 13 years, further investigation is needed to confirm this.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/sangue , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Pré-Escolar , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Imunidade Ativa/imunologia , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Programas Nacionais de Saúde , Vigilância da População , Prevalência , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/imunologia , Vacina contra Rubéola , Vírus da Rubéola/imunologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Estudantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde da População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricos , Vacinação , Saúde da Mulher , Iêmen/epidemiologiaRESUMO
To determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies and age of exposure to rubella among Yemeni schoolgirls, we studied the sera samples of 323 female students [age range 11-21 years; mean age 16.26 +/- 1.89 years] drawn from three schools in Sana'a. All samples were screened for rubella IgG antibodies using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and, if negative, for IgM in order to exclude the possibility of recent exposure. Of 323 sera, 296 [91.64%] were positive for rubella IgG. All IgG negative sera were also IgM negative. Comparable antibody prevalence was observed in all age groups. The prevalence of rubella IgG among Yemeni schoolgirls is high, with most becoming immune between the ages of 11 and 21 years. Although the age of exposure seems to be </= 13 years, further investigation is needed to confirm this
