title: Evaluation of a measles vaccine campaign in Ethiopia using oral-fluid antibody surveys.
abstract: We undertook a study to demonstrate the potential contribution of oral-fluid (OF) antibody prevalence surveys in evaluating measles vaccine campaigns. In Asela town, southern Ethiopia, oral fluids were collected from 1928 children aged 9 months to 5 years attending for campaign immunization in December 1999 and 6 months later, from 745 individuals aged 9 months to 19 years, in the same location. Measles antibody status was determined by microimmune measles specific IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Antibody prevalence was estimated at 48% in children attending for vaccination (pre-campaign), and 85% post-campaign in the comparable age group. The estimated reduction in the susceptible proportion was 75%. In older children the proportion antibody negative post-campaign was 28% in 7-9 year olds, and 13% in 10-14 year olds levels of susceptibility which raise concern over continued measles transmission. This is the first evaluation of a measles vaccine campaign based on oral-fluid seroprevalence surveys and it demonstrates the merit of oral-fluid surveys in informing health authorities about vaccination strategy refinement.
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. wnigatu18891@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Wondatir
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nigatu
authors.forename: Dhan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Phillippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cumberland
authors.forename: Eshetu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lemma
authors.forename: David W G
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nokes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008458:Measles Vaccine