Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study

The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how varicella prevalence has changed in Italy. In particular a seroprevalence study was performed, comparing it to similar surveys conducted in pre-immunization era. During 2013–2014, sera obtained from blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes or routine investigations were collected in collaboration with at least one laboratory/center for each region, following the approval of the Ethics Committee. Data were stratified by sex and age. All samples were processed in a national reference laboratory by an immunoassay with high sensitivity and specificity. Statutory notifications, national hospital discharge database and mortality data related to VZV infection were analyzed as well. A total of 3707 sera were collected and tested. In the studied period both incidence and hospitalization rates decreased and about 5 deaths per year have been registered. The seroprevalence decreased in the first year of life in subjects passively protected by theirmother, followed by an increase in the following age classes. The overall antibody prevalence was 84%. The comparison with surveys conducted with the samemethodology in 1996–1997 and 2003–2004 showed significant differences in age groups 1–19 y. The study confirms that in Italy VZV infection typically occurs in children. The impact of varicella on Italian population is changing. The comparison between studies performed in different periods shows a significant increase of seropositivity in age class 1 – 4 years, expression of vaccine interventions already adopted in some regions

The epidemiology of mumps in Italy

In Italy, although vaccination has been recommended for a number of years, vaccination coverage for mumps is still sub-optimal. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of mumps antibodies in the Italian population, stratified by age, gender and geographical area. The proportion of individuals positive for mumps antibodies remained stable in the age classes 0-11 months and 1 year (25.4% and 30.8%, respectively) and showed a continuous increase after the second year of life. The percentage of susceptible individuals was higher than 20% in persons 2-14 years of age and exceeded 10% in persons 15-39 years of age. No statistically significant differences were observed by gender or geographical area. Comparison between these results and the data obtained from a 1996 survey showed a statistically significant increase in seroprevalence in the age class 2-4 years. No changes were observed in the other age-groups. The results of this study confirm that the efforts made in recent years to improve vaccination coverage within the second year of life should be strengthened. \ua9 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The epidemiology of Varicella Zoster Virus infection in Italy

Background:The epidemiological importance of varicella and zoster and the availability of an efficacious and safe vaccine have led to an important international debate regarding the suitability of mass vaccination. The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiology of varicella and zoster in Italy and to determine whether there have been changes with respect to observations provided by an analogous study conducted 8 years ago, in order to define the most appropriate vaccination strategy. Methods: A number of data sources were evaluated, a cross-sectional population-based seroprevalence study was conducted on samples collected in 2004, and the results were compared with data obtained in 1996. Results: The data from active and passive surveillance systems confirm that varicella is a widespread infectious disease which mainly affects children. VZV seroprevalence did not substantially differ from that found in the previous study. The sero-epidemiological profile in Italy is different from that in other European countries. In particular, the percentage of susceptible adolescents is at least nearly twice as high as in other European countries and in the age group 20–39 yrs, approximately 9% of individuals are susceptible to VZV. Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to evaluating the options for varicella vaccination. It is possible that in a few years, in all Italian Regions, there will exist the conditions necessary for implementing a mass vaccination campaign and that the large-scale availability of MMRV tetravalent vaccines will facilitate mass vaccination

The epidemiology of mumps in Italy

In Italy, although vaccination has been recommended for a number of years, vaccination coverage for mumps is still sub-optimal. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of mumps antibodies in the Italian population, stratified by age, gender and geographical area. The proportion of individuals positive for mumps antibodies remained stable in the age classes 0–11 months and 1 year (25.4% and 30.8%, respectively) and showed a continuous increase after the second year of life. The percentage of susceptible individuals was higher than 20% in persons 2–14 years of age and exceeded 10% in persons 15–39 years of age. No statistically significant differences were observed by gender or geographical area. Comparison between these results and the data obtained from a 1996 survey showed a statistically significant increase in seroprevalence in the age class 2–4 years. No changes were observed in the other age-groups. The results of this study confirm that the efforts made in recent years to improve vaccination coverage within the second year of life should be strengthene

Susceptibility to varicella-zoster among pregnant women in the province of Lecce, Italy.

Background: Varicella is predominantly a childhood disease, considered a mild self-limiting disease that can have serious complications for a pregnant woman and her developing fetus. Objectives: We investigated the susceptibility to varicella-zoster Virus (VZV) among pregnant women in the province of Lecce. Study design: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Province of Lecce, where 539 pregnant women were recruited, and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Varicella IgG tests were performed. Results: The prevalence of varicella susceptibility among pregnant mothers was 10.6%. The prevalence of IgG antibodies increases significantly with increasing age, from 62.5% in the age group 15–19 years to 94.4% in the age group 40–49 years. Discussion: In the Italian National Vaccination Plan 2005–2007, varicella vaccine is only recommended for childbearing women. A safe and effective vaccine is available and no abnormalities have been observed among infants born to susceptible women who received varicella vaccines during pregnancy. Such a high number of susceptible women indicates that preventive and informative programs should be introduced, even among those who do not plan to become pregnant. Routine counselling, varicella IgG antibody screening and varicella vaccination should be considered if they have no history of the infection, to reduce the risk of fetal complications and the cost of healthcare associated with the infection

Seroepidemiology of human bocavirus in Apulia, Italy

A serological survey was performed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against human bocavirus in Apulian population. Anti-hBoV IgG antibodies were analyzed in 1,206 inhabitants (Age range: 1 month-84 years) using a standardized ELISA test based on the use of recombinant hBoV VP2 virus-like particles. In total, 1,075 (89.1%) of 1,206 participants (mean age 32±24.8 yrs) displayed anti-hBoV-IgG. The seroprevalence increased significantly (p<0.0001) in children from 2-4 yrs (64.2%) to 5-9 yrs (96.4%). A similar trend was observed in both males and females. In conclusion, our results show that hBoV infection is common in population, especially in children

ROSES-S

Well-designed population-based seroepidemiologic studies can be used to refine estimates of infection severity and transmission, and are therefore an important component of epidemic surveillance. However, the interpretation of the results of seroepidemiologic studies for SARS-CoV-2 has been hampered to date principally by heterogeneity in the quality of the reporting of the results of the study and a lack of standardized methods and reporting. We provide here the ROSES-S: Reporting of Seroepidemiologic studies—SAR

The epidemiology of mumps in Italy

In Italy, although vaccination has been recommended for a number of years, vaccination coverage for mumps is still sub-optimal. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of mumps antibodies in the Italian population, stratified by age, gender and geographical area. The proportion of individuals positive for mumps antibodies remained stable in the age classes 0–11 months and 1 year (25.4% and 30.8%, respectively) and showed a continuous increase after the second year of life. The percentage of susceptible individuals was higher than 20% in persons 2–14 years of age and exceeded 10% in persons 15–39 years of age. No statistically significant differences were observed by gender or geographical area. Comparison between these results and the data obtained from a 1996 survey showed a statistically significant increase in seroprevalence in the age class 2–4 years. No changes were observed in the other age-groups. The results of this study confirm that the efforts made in recent years to improve vaccination coverage within the second year of life should be strengthened