title: Epidemiological and molecular assessment of a rubella outbreak in North-Eastern Italy.
abstract: From January to June 2008, a rubella outbreak involving 111 laboratory confirmed cases occurred in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region of North-Eastern Italy. The outbreak occurred initially in two residential homes for young adults disabled mentally and physically. Subsequently, the epidemic spread to the general population. Young adult cohorts were mostly affected and the mean age of the patients was 26.8 years; the majority of cases were male (73.8%), with a mean age of 26.6 years in males and 27.4 in females. Three pregnant women had a primary infection and two had their pregnancies terminated. Genotyping of 16 isolates showed the circulation of RUBV 2B, a genotype originating from Asia and South Africa and now present in Europe. In addition, molecular analysis revealed a well defined space-temporal spread of two viruses showing distinct sequences. A seroepidemiological survey carried out in a city within the same geographical area showed that the proportion of women of childbearing age still susceptible to rubella virus was 5.5%, fairly close to the figure (<5%) expected by 2010.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive, Developmental and Public Health Sciences, UCO Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Trieste and IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. dagaro@burlo.trieste.it
authors.forename: Pierlanfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Agaro
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dal Molin
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zamparo
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micuzzo
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santon
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G