title: Seroepidemiological study of the transmission of the mumps virus in St. Lucia, West Indies.
abstract: A seroepidemiological study of the prevalence of mumps virus specific antibodies reveals a pattern of endemic persistence on the island of St Lucia in the West Indies. In the unvaccinated population the proportion seropositive rose rapidly in the child age classes to attain a stable plateau close to unity in value in the teenage and adult age groups. The average age at infection was estimated to be between 3 and 4 years of age and the average duration of detectable levels of maternally derived antibodies was approximately 3 months. Analyses based on mathematical models of the transmission dynamics of the virus suggest that in excess of 75% of each cohort of 1- to 2-year-old children must be effectively immunized to eliminate mumps virus transmission. A mumps radial haemolysis test, developed for quantitative measurements of antibody, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, London.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: St Catherine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D014611:Vaccination; D014900:West Indies