Serological survey of mumps antibodies in adults in the Czech Republic and the need for changes to the vaccination strategy

Abstract

Mumps outbreaks, especially in adolescents and young adults, have been reported in the Czech Republic. The aim of the presented study was to determine the seroprevalence of specific IgG antibodies against mumps in the adult population of the Czech Republic. The study was designed as a multicenter serological survey of adults aged 18 years and over. Specific IgG antibodies against mumps were detected in blood samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 1,911 serum samples were examined. The overall seropositivity reached 55.3%. In individual age groups, the highest seropositivity 63% (63.5-65.2%) was recorded in adults aged 40 years and over; the lowest seropositivity was found in adults aged 18-29 years (27.4%). The difference in seropositivity rate between the 18-29 years age group and the 40 years and over age groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Only the 18-29 years age group included both vaccinated and unvaccinated (born in the pre-vaccine era) individuals. In vaccinated individuals, seropositivity was reported in only 19.1% of persons; in unvaccinated individuals, seropositivity reached 48.2%. Our results demonstrate the long-term persistence of antibodies following natural infection and the decrease in seropositivity that occurs after vaccination over time. This immunity waning may account for the higher susceptibility of adolescents and young adults to mumps. Therefore, the current vaccination program in the Czech Republic could be considered as less effective. It will be modified with the shifting of the second dose of vaccine from two years of age to the preschool age.

Long time persistence of antibodies against Mumps in fully MMR immunized young adults: an Italian retrospective cohort study

“…16 Furthermore, the impact of immunization strategies on the pattern of the disease could influence the effectiveness and the long-term immunogenicity of the MMR vaccine, as recent studies have shown for pertussis. 17 In particular, the reduction of natural booster could be related with a decline of the IgG level in fully vaccinated persons.…”

“…Indeed, in the "vaccination era", the young adults are the age-group at higher risk of lacking anti-Mumps IgG and of disease severe complications. 17 Our study has been carried out in Apulia (South Italy, 4,000,000 inhabitants), a Region in which previous studies seemed to suggest an important prevalence of people susceptible for Mumps. 18,19 Material and methods…”

Trends in mumps incidence and first dosage of MMR vaccine coverage in Montenegro from 2009 to 2018

“…Also, the risk was significantly higher for those who received the last dose of MMR vaccine 5 or more years ago. This has actualized the issue of the MMR vaccine effectiveness in protecting against mumps and considering changing the vaccine calendar (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

“…Some studies have suggested the possibility (and some have proven) that there is a difference between the genotype of the circulating Mumps virus and that in MMR vaccines, and a potential cold chain disruption was previously recognized as a potential cause for the lack of protective effect of the MMR vaccine and which is essential for this vaccine to be maintained (stored at +2 to + 8° C, in a dark place for up to one hour before administration). It should be noted that genotyping of the circulating Mumps virus is not done routinely, and cold chain surveillance is an obligation of the services that are in charge of implementing national immunization programs (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Blood Lead Concentrations and Antibody Levels to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella among U.S. Children

“…However, studies have demonstrated that IgG-specific antibodies to measles and mumps, in the absence of additional information, are not always indicative of vaccination rather than natural infection. For instance, antigen-specific IgG antibody levels to measles were higher among children with naturally acquired infections compared with vaccinated children in a study of children 12 years of age, and mumps-specific anti-IgG levels among 18-29 year old Czech adults tended to be higher, not lower, among those with previous natural infection versus those previously vaccinated [27,28]. These findings suggest that antibody-specific levels of IgG for anti-measles and anti-mumps are not a useful metric for determining vaccination status without additional information, and therefore, seronegative antibody levels should not be immediately excluded from studies assessing antigen-specific IgG levels of circulating antibodies.…”