title: Measurement of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus in a tropical population by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: We used the recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to varicella-zoster virus to study the prevalence and titers of virus-specific antibody in a south Indian population of 171 individuals 0 to 25 years old. The antibody prevalence rate was less than 15% in individuals under 5 years of age and gradually rose to a maximum of 72% in young adults 15 to 25 years of age. The median age of primary infection was 12.25 years. The geometric mean antibody titers were between 1:80 and 1:160 in the age groups with antibody. These results are different from the pattern of seroepidemiology of varicella-zoster virus infection in temperate countries and indicate that varicella is predominantly a disease of young adults in the population studied.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G