rubella immunosurveillance of Iranian females: an indication of the emergence of rubella outbreak in Shiraz, Iran

ABSTRACT

The present work describes the occurrence of rubella virus hemagglutination inhibition antibodies as measured in 593 females of various age groups in Shiraz, the capital of Fars Province in Southern Iran during 1986-91. As a rule a rising seroconversion rate was demonstrated with increasing age. Antibody titers between 4 and 32 prevailed in all seropositive age groups with maximum occurrence in individuals aged 20-29. About 46.5% of children aged < 10 remained free of detectable antibody, whereas the corresponding ratios in the other age groups averaged 15%. The results of the study also indicated an emergence of rubella outbreak during 1990-91. This was shown in children < 10 in whom a seropositivity of 94.45% was observed