Assessment of immune status against measles, mumps, and rubella in young Kuwaitis: MMR vaccine efficacy

Abstract

Seroprevalence studies on measles, mumps, and rubella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies after the implementation of the measles‐mumps‐rubella (MMR) vaccine are lacking in Kuwait. This study is an age‐stratified serological study to assess the herd immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella among the young Kuwaiti population to evaluate the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. IgG antibody titers to mumps, measles, and rubella were determined with commercial immune‐assay in serum samples of 1000 Kuwaitis aged 5 to 20 years. The highest level of seropositivity was to measles (94.6%), which was significantly higher in females than in males. The highest seronegativity was for mumps (29%). The percentage of the young Kuwaiti population who were serologically positive for all the components of the MMR vaccine was 47%, and 2% of the individuals were without any protective antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella. Females aged 5 to 10 years were best protected to rubella; however, seronegativity in 8.2% of 11‐ to 20‐year‐old females makes them vulnerable to rubella virus infection and congenital complications during pregnancy. The study provided insight into the effect of the MMR vaccine on seroprevalence of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella in Kuwait, which will contribute to the global knowledge base of vaccine coverage and help to inform elimination strategies. The findings strengthen the need for a third dose of MMR vaccine and catch‐up campaigns for the young Kuwaiti population to increase vaccination coverage and prevent waning immunity, especially among those who received only one dose of the vaccine during childhood.

Serostatus of IgG antibody against mumps virus in adult population of Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia

“…Consistent with reports by other researchers, our data showed no significant change in the mumps seropositivity rate among men and women. 38,43,44 Similar to several previous studies; however, a higher mumps seronegativity rate was reported among men than among women. 20,38 Interestingly, we showed in a previous study, a significant association between age as well as measles seropositivity.…”

“…38,43,44 Similar to several previous studies; however, a higher mumps seronegativity rate was reported among men than among women. 20,38 Interestingly, we showed in a previous study, a significant association between age as well as measles seropositivity. 45 Our results showed that the median anti-mumps IgG concentration was higher in women than in men for all age groups.…”

“…These findings may indicate the loss of immunity due to waning antibody levels over time, even after 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, due to reduced immunogenicity induced by the mumps vaccine component of the MMR in the absence of natural boosting. 11 , 38 , 39 These data could also be interpreted as insufficient vaccination coverage, which may result in an epidemiological move of disease frequency to older age groups, increasing the rates of severe disease and problems. 38 However, this finding could also be associated with the low sensitivity of the ELISA assay that was used to assess the antibody titre.…”

“… 11 , 38 , 39 These data could also be interpreted as insufficient vaccination coverage, which may result in an epidemiological move of disease frequency to older age groups, increasing the rates of severe disease and problems. 38 However, this finding could also be associated with the low sensitivity of the ELISA assay that was used to assess the antibody titre. 40 The highest proportion of individuals with seropositivity against IgG antibodies was 87.8%, which was observed in the twice-vaccinated age group (<20 years).…”

Seroepidemiology study of rubella virus antibodies among neonates and pregnant women at hospitals in Henan province, China

“…Up to now, only one genetically stable serotype of rubella virus has been identified 16 . Rubella is a vaccine‐preventable and self‐limiting disease that usually occurs during childhood 17 . Besides vaccination, natural infection with the rubella virus can also lead to long immunity 18 .…”