title: Susceptibility to rubella infection in females at high risk. Immune protection associated to population density.
abstract: Susceptibility to rubella in 428 Mexican females of childbearing age from four sanitary areas confined to a Mexican State (Queretaro) was determined. Members of the group were residents of urban and rural communities and selected by random sampling. Anti-viral antibodies were determined by inhibition of haemagglutination. Concentration was expressed as International Units of IgG anti-rubella haemagglutinin (IU/ml). Antibody concentrations lower than 15.6 (IU/ml) were regarded as non-protective. The percentage of women immune-protected to rubella in the areas varied from 28.8 to 75.6 with an average of 61.9. The difference in percentages of immune-protected females within the areas was statistically significant (chi 2 = 48.26 and p < 0.001). Immune protection was associated to population density, with less protection in less populated areas. Our results differ from the reported values of a serosurvey performed in the same state one year before: immune protection 61.9% versus 79.96%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous National University of Mexico, Mexico D.F.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012423:Rural Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral