Seroepidemiology of varicella-zoster virus in Korean adolescents and adults using fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test

Abstract

SUMMARYWe conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study in 2012–2013 to determine the seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in adolescents and adults living in Korea, where varicella vaccination has been recommended universally at age 12–15 months since 2005. Residual serum samples were collected from 1196 healthy adults and adolescents aged ⩾10 years between November 2012 and March 2013. The fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to determine the seroprevalence of VZV. The seroprevalences of VZV were compared between six age groups: 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and ⩾60 years. The seroprevalence of VZV in the entire study cohort was 99·1% according to the FAMA test and 93·1% as determined by ELISA. The seroprevalences of the six age groups were as follows: 96·0%, 99·5%, 99·5%, 99·5%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, by the FAMA test, and 83·3%, 93·0%, 93·0%, 97·5%, 94·5%, and 97·5%, respectively, by ELISA. Seroprevalence increased significantly with age (P < 0·001); moreover, the seroprevalence in subjects aged 10–19 years was significantly lower than in other age groups (P < 0·001), as measured by both the FAMA test and ELISA. Thus, strategies to increase protective immunity against VZV in teenagers are necessary.

Burden of varicella in the Asia-Pacific region: a systematic literature review

“…Of interest, incidence data based on passive reporting seemed relatively low compared with those studies that actively investigated incidence, implying a low rate of reporting. Seroprevalence in the general population ranged from 36.0% in Sri Lanka in the pre-vaccination era to 98.8% in South Korea following introduction of the UVV program [75,81]. As would be expected, seroprevalence increased rapidly with age.…”

Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus as measured by fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen assay and glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay more than 10 years after initiation of a universal vaccination program: An observational study

“…This finding is consistent with that of a seroprevalence study conducted within 10 years after UVV initiation in Korea. In studies conducted by Lee et al and Han et al, [15,16] seropositivity rate against VZV was higher than 90% in those aged 20 or older. In our study, in relation to age, we assume that most immunity in subjects aged 20 or older resulted from natural infection; the UVV did not appear to affect the immunity against VZV in the adult group.…”

Current Methods for the Detection of Antibodies of Varicella-Zoster Virus: A Review

“…The FAMA test can be performed using chemically fixed VZV-infected cells. The fixed-cell FAMA was developed from the classic FAMA to increase throughput and efficiency and has been used to study human immunity to VZV [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In this modified FAMA (schematic shown in Figure 1 B), VZV-infected cells are first fixed on the slide with cold acetone [ 31 , 32 ] or glutaraldehyde [ 29 , 30 ], while the other steps and the cutoff values (1:2 or 1:4) are similar to or the same as those in the classic live-cell FAMA test.…”

“…The fixed-cell FAMA was developed from the classic FAMA to increase throughput and efficiency and has been used to study human immunity to VZV [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In this modified FAMA (schematic shown in Figure 1 B), VZV-infected cells are first fixed on the slide with cold acetone [ 31 , 32 ] or glutaraldehyde [ 29 , 30 ], while the other steps and the cutoff values (1:2 or 1:4) are similar to or the same as those in the classic live-cell FAMA test. The acetone fixation increases membrane permeability and allows antibody access to the cell cytoplasm and binding to other viral proteins besides membrane antigens [ 33 ].…”