Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Vos, Regnerus A.
• Mollema, Liesbeth
• van Boven, Michiel
• van Lier, Alies
• Smits, Gaby
• Janga-Jansen, Alcira V.A.
• Baboe-Kalpoe, Sharda
• Hulshof, Koen
• Stienstra, Ymkje
• van der Klis, Fiona R.M.
• de Melker, Hester E.

Titel

High varicella zoster virus susceptibility in Caribbean island populations: Implications for vaccination

Ist Teil von

• International journal of infectious diseases, 2020-05, Vol.94, p.16-24

Ort / Verlag

Canada: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2020

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is reported regularly among adolescents and adults in Caribbean island populations. The disease more often runs a severe course among these populations, causing a substantial burden. The aim of this sero-epidemiological study was to obtain an insight into VZV susceptibility and its determinants in island populations of the Caribbean Netherlands (CN). Participants from Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (n = 1829, aged 0–90 years) donated a blood sample and completed a questionnaire. VZV-specific IgG antibodies were determined using a bead-based multiplex immunoassay. Risk factors were analysed using a logistic regression model. Overall seroprevalence in CN was 78%, being lowest on St. Eustatius (73%) and highest on Bonaire and Saba (79%). Seropositivity increased gradually with age, with 60% and 80% at ages 10 years and 30 years, respectively, and ranging between 80% and 90% thereafter. Higher odds for VZV seronegativity were seen among persons who were born in CN or had resided there since early childhood, and among single-person households. VZV susceptibility is relatively high among adolescents and adults in CN. In order to reduce the burden of VZV-related disease in these populations, routine varicella vaccination is recommended. As data are scarce, the study findings can serve as a blueprint for the epidemiology in tropical regions.