title: The comparative sero-epidemiology of varicella zoster virus in 11 countries in the European region.
abstract: The European sero-epidemiology network (ESEN2) aims to standardise serological surveillance of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in 11 participant countries. In each country, serum banks were collected between 1996 and 2003 and tested for VZV antibodies. Assay results were standardised so that international comparisons could be made. Age-specific forces of infection were calculated for three age groups (<5, 5-9 and >or=10 years of age) and used to estimate the base reproduction number (R(0)) and the herd immunity threshold (H). Most VZV infection occurred in childhood, but there was a wide variation in transmissibility, with R(0) ranging from 16.9 in the Netherlands to 3.3 in Italy. Herd immunity thresholds varied from 70% in Italy to 94% in the Netherlands. There are substantial differences in VZV sero-epidemiology within the European region, which will need to be taken into account in designing national policies regarding VZV vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, UK. a.nardone@invs.sante.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Ory
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Damme
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davidkin
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Melker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mossong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slacikova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berbers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gabutti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jokinen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: M V Martínez
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: de Aragón
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Smetana
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vargova
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vranckx
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy; D009426:Netherlands; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral