title: Seroprevalence of rubella in northeastern Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to search rubella prevalence and compare the results with national and international data.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of anti-rubella immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-rubella immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were studied in the sera obtained from cases with fever in last week and applied to the Microbiology Laboratory in the period between February 2010 and December 2010. No clinical sign or symptom regarding rubella infection has been evaluated for cases to obtain blood samples. IgM and IgG antibodies were tested with ELISA (Vitros ECI Q (J&J) Company Ortho Clinical Diagnostic Macro) method. The data obtained were assessed with SPSS statistical package using chi-square trend analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-rubella IgM positivity was found 8/68 (8.8 %) of males and 3/138 (2.2 %) of females who are under 18 years-old (p = 0.028). Meanwhile 47/65 (72.3 %) of males and 99/122 (81.8 %) of females under 18 years-old were presented with anti-rubella IgG positivity (p = 0.164). In all, 2/8 (25 %) males and 28/1,181 (2.4 %) females older than 18 years-old were anti-rubella IgM positive (p = 0.013). Anti-rubella IgG antibodies were found positive in 862/1,181 (73 %) of females and all males (8/8) older than 18-years-old (p = 0.086).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In spite of the active immunization programme commenced after 2006, rubella infection is still a risk in Turkey without discriminating the gender.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akkoyunlu
authors.forename: Gulhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arvas
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozsarı
authors.forename: Ismail Necati
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Hakyemez
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012411:Rubella Vaccine