VZV Foundation - A Decade Of Leadership In The Fight Against VZV Infections

	Oral Presentation Abstracts: 53 [53] PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS IN THE GERMAN POPULATION P. Wutzler (1), I. Färber (1), A. Tischer (2), S. Wagenpfeil (3), H Bisanz (5) (1) Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, University of Jena; (2) Robert Koch Institute, Berlin; (3) Institute for Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technical University Munich; (5) SmithKline Beecham Pharma, Munich, Germany Background:* Although most primary varicella-zoster-virus (VZV) infections occur during the first decade of life an upward shift in the age distribution of varicella became evident in some countries. Since seroepidemiological data of the German population were not available, the status of immunity to VZV of 4602 individuals between the ages 0 to > 70 years was evaluated. Methods: Sera from individuals of the age groups 0 to 19 years were obtained from a sample used for the European Seroepidemiological Network on the vaccination status in 1995. Specimens of age groups 20 to > 70 years were selected at a population-based level from a representative sample of the German resident population collected as part of the National Health Examination Survey between 1997 and 1998. Serum samples were tested for VZV IgG by a commercial EIA. Equivocal and low titre sera were tested by an in-house FAMA. Results: After the first year of life the antibody prevalence increased steeply from 7% to 62% among the 4 to 5 year olds and reached 94% among the 10 to 11 year olds. Among the more than 40 year olds, only a few individuals were susceptible for VZV. A gender difference in seroprevalence was not evident. The median antibody levels measured by the EIA was between 895 and 1400 IU/L in the different age groups and remained constant over time. Conclusions: There was no evidence for a shift of varicella susceptibility to older age groups in the German population. However, up to 5% of people reached adulthood still susceptible to VZV and are at risk for severe varicella or complications during pregnancy. Corresponding Author: P. Wutzler, Dr. med. habil., Professor of Microbiology, Virology & Epidemiology, Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, University of Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany

[53]

PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS IN THE GERMAN POPULATION

*P. Wutzler (1), I. Färber (1), A. Tischer (2), S. Wagenpfeil (3), H Bisanz (5)
(1) Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, University of Jena; (2) Robert Koch Institute, Berlin; (3) Institute for Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technical University Munich; (5) SmithKline Beecham Pharma, Munich, Germany

Background:
Although most primary varicella-zoster-virus (VZV) infections occur during the first decade of life an upward shift in the age distribution of varicella became evident in some countries. Since seroepidemiological data of the German population were not available, the status of immunity to VZV of 4602 individuals between the ages 0 to > 70 years was evaluated.
Methods:
Sera from individuals of the age groups 0 to 19 years were obtained from a sample used for the European Seroepidemiological Network on the vaccination status in 1995. Specimens of age groups 20 to > 70 years were selected at a population-based level from a representative sample of the German resident population collected as part of the National Health Examination Survey between 1997 and 1998. Serum samples were tested for VZV IgG by a commercial EIA. Equivocal and low titre sera were tested by an in-house FAMA.
Results:
After the first year of life the antibody prevalence increased steeply from 7% to 62% among the 4 to 5 year olds and reached 94% among the 10 to 11 year olds. Among the more than 40 year olds, only a few individuals were susceptible for VZV. A gender difference in seroprevalence was not evident. The median antibody levels measured by the EIA was between 895 and 1400 IU/L in the different age groups and remained constant over time.
Conclusions:
There was no evidence for a shift of varicella susceptibility to older age groups in the German population. However, up to 5% of people reached adulthood still susceptible to VZV and are at risk for severe varicella or complications during pregnancy.

Corresponding Author: P. Wutzler, Dr. med. habil., Professor of Microbiology, Virology & Epidemiology, Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, University of Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany