title: Susceptibility to varicella in childbearing age women, Central Italy: is there a need for vaccinating this population group?
abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibodies in childbearing age women aged 17-42 years. Sera were collected in Central Italy in years 2001-2002 and were tested by a commercial VZV IgG enzyme immunoassay. Overall VZV seroprevalence was 80.9% and it showed a significant increase by age, confirming a considerable circulation of VZV also in the older age groups not commonly considered at high risk. This study further supports the importance of vaccinating susceptible adolescents and women of childbearing age in order to reduce both maternal and foetal complications associated with varicella in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alfonsi
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montomoli
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alberini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: Marta Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ciofi degli Atti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine