title: Antibody to Varicella-Zoster virus in parturient women and their offspring during the first year of life.
abstract: A nursery outbreak of varicella is reported. Serum from 200 parturient women and 131 of their offspring were studied for antibody to varicella-zoster (V-Z) virus to analyze their immunity to varicella. Antibody titers were measured by the sensitive fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) technique. It was found that approximately 5% to 16% of women of child-bearing age in New York City are susceptible to varicella. Women from Puerto Rico or other subtropical and tropical areas are more likely to be susceptible (16%) than others (5%). Infants born to mothers with detectable V-Z FAMA titers almost always had detectable V-Z antibody at birth. In serial serum specimens obtained from 67 initially seropositive babies during the first year of life, it was found that by 6 months of age most infants were no longer passively protected against varicella. These observations may explain why varicella is not uncommonly observed in young babies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral