Survey of poliovirus antibodies during the final stage of polio eradication in Egypt.
BACKGROUND
Egypt provides ideal conditions for poliovirus (PV) transmission (high population density, high contact rates and low sanitation and hygiene in some areas). Despite excellent program performance, wild poliovirus type 1 (PV1) continue to circulate in 2004. To investigate potential causes for the persistence, we conducted a serological study.


METHODS
Seroprevalence surveys were conducted in "polio-endemic" regions (Greater Cairo and Upper Egypt) and in one control region (Lower Egypt) in December 2004. Sera collected from infants aged 6-11 months were tested for antibodies to poliovirus by neutralization assay.


RESULTS
A total of 973 subjects were tested. Seroprevalence to PV type 1 (PV1), PV type 2 (PV2) and PV type 3 (PV3) was 99, 99 and 91%, respectively. Significant variation in PV3 seroprevalence was found (range: 76-100%). Region, density, maternal education, socioeconomic status (SES), stunting and diarrhea were significant risk factors for lower seroprevalence in the univariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested that uniformly high immunity levels (>96%) were required to interrupt PV1 transmission in the last remaining reservoirs (last PV1 was isolated in mid-January 2005 in Egypt). It further suggests substantial regional differences in OPV immunogenicity, with rural areas and low SES achieving the lowest seroprevalence to PV3.
El-Sayed
Nasr
N
Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), Cairo, Egypt.
Al-Jorf
Samir
S
Hennessey
Karen A
KA
Salama
Maha
M
Watkins
Margaret A
MA
Abdelwahab
Jalaa A
JA
Pallansch
Mark A
MA
Gary
Howard
H
Wahdan
Mohamed Helmy
MH
Sutter
Roland W
RW
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018401:Sample Size; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D009626:Terminology as Topic
D000914:Antibodies, Viral