Seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin G Levels (IgG) against Varicella in Healthy Indian Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
Introduction: The key role of vaccines is to prevent infections caused by viruses and bacteria. Many adults remain unaware and unvaccinated. Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is a pathogenic human herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox) infections in both children and adults. Only a fraction of t...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20562/75240_CE[Ra1]_F(SL)_QC(AN_SHU)_PF1(RI_SL)_PFA_NC(IS)_PN(SL).pdf |
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| Summary: | Introduction: The key role of vaccines is to prevent infections caused by viruses and bacteria. Many adults remain unaware and unvaccinated. Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is a pathogenic human herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox) infections in both children and adults. Only a fraction of the population in India receives the varicella vaccination through private practitioners, as it is not part of the national immunisation programme.
Aim: To determine the levels of protective antibodies against varicella among different age groups of healthy adults.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to September 2020 in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Blood Donation Centre of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, Punjab, India. The study involved healthy adults aged 18 years and above attending blood donation camps or those accompanying patients in the Internal Medicine Outpatient Department (OPD). They were divided into four groups: Group A: Adults aged 18-30 years, Group B: Adults aged 31-45 years, Group C: Adults aged 46-60 years, Group D: Adults aged >60 years. Variables like age, sex, socioeconomic status, history of VZV vaccination, history of natural varicella infection in the past and VZV IgG levels tested with a commercially available Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit were analysed. The dependent variables were classified as Varicella IgG positive (>12 U/mL), equivocal (8-12 U/mL) and negative (<8 U/mL). Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The Chi-square test (c) and Fisher’s-exact test were used for proportions, while the Spearman’s correlation test was used to assess the correlation between age and Immunoglobulin (IgG) levels. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Out of 300 participants, 244 (81.3%) were male and the mean±SD age was 44.26±15.50 years. A total of 88.7% had protective levels of varicella IgG >12 U/mL. Lower socioeconomic status and younger age groups were associated with negative or equivocal (<12 U/mL) IgG levels. A positive correlation between age (in years) and VZV IgG (in U/mL) was found in the present study.
Conclusion: Overall, protective immunity among adults against varicella was found to be 88.7%. Serosurveillance surveys in the community and healthcare facilities should be implemented for vaccine-preventable diseases so that vaccination can be offered to the susceptible population, thereby preventing outbreaks. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |