ABSTRACT
Background. The prevalence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection has been poorly studied in Latin America. The aim of this work was to study the seroprevalence of antibody to VZV infection in Mexico. Infection was determined in 3,737 individuals. Methods. Samples were collected during a national serologic survey performed during 1987-1988 and represented individuals 1- to 29-years-old from all socioeconomic levels and from rural and urban communities throughout the country. Antibodies anti-VZV were measured with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (VARELISA Merck, Germany). Results. In the population studied, 464 individuals (12.4 percent) were seronegative or susceptible to infection, whereas about 17.0 percent of individuals 1- to 19-years-old were susceptible to infection. Between the ages of 20 to 24 years, 8.4 percent were susceptible and between 25 to 29 years, 5.0 percent of persons were still susceptible to infection. Conclusions. Socioeconomic level, density of population, crowding, and gender were not found as risk factors for susceptibility to VZV infection in adolescents and young adults. Low educational level was found as a risk factor for susceptibility. High proportions of adolescents and young adults in Mexico are susceptible to VZV infection and should receive special attention when desingning vaccination programs