title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus: A nationwide population-based study.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chicken pox as a primary infection following which it becomes latent in neurons. It may then reactivate to cause shingles (herpes zoster). Severity of lesions and VZV pathogenicity are depended on the host's immune response and variant in VZV Dr Athina Myrto ChioniIdentification of VZV seroprevalance rate in general population may lead to develop new health strategic managements such as vaccination. Therefore, we aimed to provide a systematic review of the seroprevalence of VZV infection among Iranian population and estimate age- and gender- specific prevalence of VZV. Keywords "seroprevalence"; "varicella zoster virus" and "Iran"; were searched in international electronic databases and also in national Persian databases. Twenty two pooled studies among 262 total studies containing (240 published articles; 18 dissertations; and 4 proceedings abstracts) from 1992 to 2014 with total sample size of 7867 individuals were included in the final review. Data was analyzed using random effect method. The heterogeneity was calculated using I-square statistics The overall IgG seroprevalence rate of VZV infection in general population of Iran was 78.50% (95% CI; 77.74%-79.25%). There was significant heterogeneity among the studies (P<0.0001; I2=99.4%). Furthermore, the relative risk of VZV infection is high in females (80.47%, 95% CI; 79.40%-81.54%) and older adults (95.30%, 95% CI; 94.11% -96.48%). Our results may represent a true background and estimation of VZV infection in Iran and generate the cost-benefits immunization program. Moreover, the ensuing data suggests further attention on disease seroprevalence in order to obtain efficient data for therapeutic intervention targeted against VZV.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Omolbanin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amjadi
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Electronic address: rafiei1710@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafiei
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghshenas
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza Alizadeh
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Navaei
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valadan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hosseini-Khah
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Akbar Hedayatizadeh
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Omran
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza Jafari
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shakib
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahoora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: SEC Faculty, Penrhyn Road, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK. Electronic address: h.ashrafi@kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: G Hossein
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D000073618:Varicella Zoster Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: IgG; Immunity; Iran; Seroprevalence; Vaccination; Varicella zoster virus