Changes in age related seroprevalence of antibody to varicella zoster virus: impact on vaccine strategy.
OBJECTIVE
To study changes in the seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibody over the past 25 years with a view to determining the target age group for any future vaccination strategy.


METHODS
Stored sera collected from different age groups over a period of 25 years were tested by a commercial VZV IgG enzyme immunoassay at a four year time interval. Data were analysed by logistic regression to investigate the evidence for changes in incidence and hence seroprevalence over that period.


RESULTS
There was a significant rise in VZV antibody prevalence in the 1-4 year age group during the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
A universal childhood VZV vaccination strategy will need to take account of the increase in incidence of VZV infection in children under the age of 4 years; hence, the suggested target age would be between 12 and 18 months---soon after the disappearance of maternal antibody.
Kudesia
G
G
Public Health Laboratory, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK.
Partridge
S
S
Farrington
C P
CP
Soltanpoor
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines