title: Varicella seroprevalence in Turkish population in Cyprus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the age-specific seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in Turkish population in Cyprus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 600 unvaccinated individuals aged 1-30 years were selected for the study with cluster sampling. Information on socio-demographic characteristics was gathered for each participant and, anti-VZV antibodies were assayed by using enzyme immune assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 578 assayed samples, 486 (84.1%) were seropositive. Varicella seroprevalence increased sharply with age from 25% for the 2-3 year olds to 55, 78 and 85% for 4-5, 6-7 and 8-9 year olds, respectively. More than 90% of individuals >16 years of age were seropositive. Varicella seroprevalence was higher in large families with five and more members (91.2%) than in small families with four or fewer members (80.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of varicella-zoster virus infections occur during preschool period and at the first years of schooling. Therefore, routine varicella vaccination of children would be logical in Northern Cyprus, as is currently recommended by the European Working Group on Varicella.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey. zafer.kurugol@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurugol
authors.forename: Guldane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koturoglu
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksit
authors.forename: Tijen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozacar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral