serological survey of measles, mumps and rubella immunity among school aged children in Western Saudi Arabia

To evaluate the adequacy of measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccination among children and to assess risk of outbreak in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. We recruited a total of 527 children from schools located at different urban regions, and preschool children from those attending the well baby clinics in Jeddah, KSA. We tested for MMR viruses antibodies using ELISA technique. Approximately 99% of children received MMR vaccine. Overall seropositivity for measles antibodies was 71%, mumps 65% and rubella 90%, which were elevated in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children [p<0.000]. In vaccinated children, percentage of seropositivity for MMR was higher in public school children versus private [p<0.01] or those who did not attend school [p<0.01] and in Saudi versus non-Saudi children [p<0.000]. In vaccinated children, percentage of seropositivity obtained according to age groups of 4-6 years for measles was 73.7%, for mumps 66.7% and for rubella 91.7%. As for 7-11 years age group, seropositivity for measles was 72.6%, for mumps 68.1% and for rubella 93%, while for the 12-14 years, seropositivity for measles was 66.4%, mumps 59.1% and for rubella 86.1%. The prevalence of seropositivity against the above-mentioned viruses decreased with progression of age. Measles, mumps and rubella mass vaccination program achieved high coverage rate among children, in Jeddah, KSA. However, there is still a high level of sera negative children among vaccinated ones for measles and mumps. Seropositivity decreased with age, which might raise possibility of outbreaks among adolescent. Additional doses of vaccine against measles and mumps are recommended and evaluation of new MMR protocol should be made

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis B and anti-hepatitis A antibodies among school aged children in Western Saudi Arabia

To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis A virus [HAV] among children in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA] and to evaluate the need of anti-HAV mass vaccination. This study was carried out on random samples of schools located at different regions in Jeddah, KSA during the year 2004. A total of 527 sera, [285 males and 242 females], collected from children aged [4-14 years] were tested for anti-hepatitis B surface [antigen] [HBsAb] and anti-HAV viruses antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique. Approximately 98% of children received HBV while 49% of received HAV vaccine. For HBV the overall seropositivity was 75% while HAV was 28.7%, whereas seronegativity was 14% for HBV and 70.5% for HAV. Percentage of seropositivity against HBV was elevated in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children [p<0.000]. In vaccinated children against HBV, percentage of seropositivity was elevated in children attending public versus those attending private and no schools [p<0.000] and in Saudi versus non-Saudi children [p<0.05]. In vaccinated and non-vaccinated children against HAV, percentage of seropositivity was elevated in children attending public versus those attending private schools [p<0.000] and no schools [p<0.000] and in males [p<0.05] versus females [p<0.01]. In vaccinated children, percentage of seropositivity for HBV obtained by age range from 4-6 years was 78.7%, for 7-11 years 74.4% and for 12-14 years 72.6%, whereas for HAV virus, seropositivity was 14.8% for 4-6 years, 38.3% for 7-11 years and 28.6% for 12-14 years. Despite successful coverage of mass vaccination against HBV among school aged children, in Jeddah, KSA, there are high prevalence levels of seronegative with increasing age suggesting outbreak of disease among adolescent. Low prevalence of protective antibodies against HAV in vaccinated and non-vaccinated children may suggest application of mass vaccination program

Metabolic hormones profile in 2 weeks old healthy infants of diabetic mothers

To determine the concentration of plasma leptin and other metabolic hormones in offspring of diabetic and none diabetic mothers after 2 weeks of age. The relationship between leptin and metabolic hormones was also investigated. Included in the study were 79 newborns from the Neonatal Unit at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2004-January 2005. The newborns were categorized into 3 main groups: the control group, consisting of 32 infants of non-diabetic mothers; the gestational diabetes mothers [GDM] group, consisting of 26 infants; and the frank diabetic mothers [FDM], consisting of 21 infants. Infants of diabetic mothers were further subdivided into those of dietary [d] or insulin [i] dependent mothers. Plasma leptin, insulin, cortisol and free thyroxin levels were measured by enzyme link immunosorbent assay. No significant difference in plasma leptin was observed between the studied groups. The GDM-d and FDM-d showed lower glucose versus controls [p<0.001 and p<0.05]. There was significant correlation between leptin and glucose in the GDM group [r=0.18, p< 0.05] and with insulin in GDM-d on diet control [r=0.37, p< 0.01]. After 2 weeks of life, no difference in plasma leptin between infants of diabetic and non-diabetic mothers was observed, which may be important for the stimulation of feeding behavior and acquisition of energy homeostasis. Significant association between plasma leptin and insulin in offspring of GDM supports the hypothesis that functional adipoinsular axis might exist in term newborns

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C infection in healthy children from the western region of Saudi Arabia

Community-acquired HCV infection was re garded as the main pattern of HCV infection especially after the implementation of the blood screening program in the Kingdom. Our aim was to determine the seroprevalence of community-acquired HCV infection in a group of healthy children from the western region of Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected from children attending the surgical clinics for minor surgery at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah in the period between November 2001 to October 2003. Sera were tested for HCV antibody using a third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 1059 children screened, mean age +/- SD [7.4 +/- 3.7 years], range [1-18 years], 630 were males [60%]. Four children tested positive with a mean age +/- SD [7 +/- 3.1 years], range [4-11 years]. Giving a seroprevalence of 0.38%. There was no difference in seropositivity according to age groups, p values was 0.9. The seroprevalence of HCV infection in healthy children residing the western region of Saudi Arabia is loss, which may reflect the general improvement in the standard of living

pattern of CagA and Vac proteins in Helicobacter pylori seropositive asymptomatic children in western Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to determine antibody prevalence to Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] virulence factors CagA and VacA in asymptomatic H. pylori seropositive children in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. The possibility of differences in antibodies response patterns was also investigated in relation to gender, nationality and age. Two hundred and twenty-four asymptomatic H. pylori seropositive children [mean age 9.3 +/- 3.9 years; range, 1-14 years] were enrolled in this study from King Abdul-Aziz University and Maternity and Children's Hospitals, Jeddah, KSA, during the periods 2002-2003. The 35 kDa, CagA or VacA H. pylori antibodies were measured in the serum by immunoblot [Helico Blot 2] method. Immunoblot assay yielded positive results in 215/224 seropositive asymptomatic children [96%]. In those children, the prevalence of 35 kDa was 63.3%, VacA was 60%, CagA was 56.7% and for combined VacA and CagA antibodies was 45.6%. Prevalence of these bands did not show any difference between Saudi and non-Saudi children. Meanwhile, prevalence of 35 kDa, VacA, CagA, combined VacA and CagA antibodies were significantly elevated in males versus females [p<0.0001] and in children 10 years versus those in age groups 1-5 years and 6-9 years [p<0.0001]. This study showed high prevalence of H. pylori antibodies among asymptomatic children in Jeddah, KSA. The prevalence of antibodies against 35 kDa, CagA and VacA H. pylori antigens is higher in males and older children. The ELISA and immunoblot are non-invasive methods that were found to have adequate performance in pediatric population