title: Seroprevalence survey on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella antibodies in healthcare workers in Japan: sex, age, occupational-related differences and vaccine efficacy.
abstract: A seroprevalence survey on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella was conducted on healthcare workers (HCWs) at Shimane University Hospital, Japan utilizing an enzyme immunoassay. Of 1811 HCWs tested, 91.8% were seropositive to measles, 92.1% to mumps, 89.5% to rubella and 96.3% to varicella. Sex-related differences in seroprevalence were found in rubella (males vs. females: 84.7 vs. 92.2%, P < 0.001). Moreover, males aged 30-39 years were most susceptible to rubella (22.4%), which may be attributed to the design of childhood immunization programmes in Japan. Individuals aged ≤ 29 years were more susceptible to measles (14.3%) and mumps (10.9%), compared to other age groups. There were no significant sex- and age-related differences in varicella seroprevalence. The physician occupational group was more susceptible to rubella, but no significant occupational-related difference was observed in the other diseases. Susceptible subjects, with negative or equivocal serological results were given a vaccine which induced seroconversion in most vaccinees. Seroconversion occurred more frequently in the equivocal group than in the negative group. These findings provide a new insight for the seroprevalence survey of vaccine-preventable diseases in Japanese HCWs with special reference to vaccine efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumakura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onoda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine