Bechini Angela, Del Riccio Marco, Salvati Cristina, Bonito Benedetta, Zanella Beatrice, Biamonte Massimiliano Alberto, Bruschi Mario, Iamarino Johanna Alexandra, Fattorini Letizia, Baggiani Lorenzo, Della Fonte Monica, Mereu Giovanna, Bonanni Paolo, Group Working, Boccalini Sara
Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Medical School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Sep 16;12(9):1056. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12091056.
Varicella infections follow a benign course in around 90% of cases, with more severe forms occurring in adults. To identify potential pockets of susceptibility and to improve targeted immunization strategies, this study aims to critically assess immunological status by evaluating varicella seroprevalence among adults (18-99 years) in the province of Florence (Italy), nearly a decade after Tuscany introduced the vaccination program. A convenience sample of 430 subjects aged 18 to 94 years (mean age 51.8 ± 18.8 years), stratified by age and sex (53.7% of subjects were female; N = 231), was collected between 2018 and 2019. Sero-analytical analyses were conducted utilizing EUROIMMUN Anti-VZV ELISA (IgG) kits. Most of them were of Italian nationality (87.4%; N = 376). Among the 430 tested samples, 385 (89.5%) were positive and 39 (9.1%) were negative. The remaining six sera (1.4%), confirmed as equivocal, were excluded from further analysis. No significant differences were found based on sex (-value = 0.706) or nationality (-value = 0.112). The application of trend tests (Mantel-Haenszel; Kendall Tau-b) showed a significant trend ( < 0.024 and < 0.032, respectively), with an increasing probability of finding a positive anti-varicella serological status passing from a lower age group (84.2%) to a higher one (93.0%). By considering the female population aged 18-49 years, the seroprevalence of anti-varicella antibodies was found to be 88.4%, with a susceptibility of 11.6%, highlighting the risk of acquiring infection during pregnancy. The introduction of varicella vaccination has had a significant impact on public health in Tuscany and in Italy more generally. However, further efforts should be made to reduce the number of individuals still susceptible in adulthood, with particular attention given to women of childbearing age and the promotion of vaccination through mass and social media and institutional websites.
在大约90%的病例中，水痘感染病程呈良性，而更严重的形式则发生在成年人中。为了确定潜在的易感人群，并改进针对性的免疫策略，本研究旨在通过评估意大利佛罗伦萨省（托斯卡纳引入疫苗接种计划近十年后）18至99岁成年人的水痘血清流行率，来严格评估免疫状况。在2018年至2019年期间，收集了430名年龄在18至94岁（平均年龄51.8±18.8岁）的便利样本，按年龄和性别分层（53.7%的受试者为女性；N = 231）。使用欧蒙抗水痘带状疱疹病毒ELISA（IgG）试剂盒进行血清分析。他们中的大多数是意大利国籍（87.4%；N = 376）。在430份检测样本中，385份（89.5%）呈阳性，39份（9.1%）呈阴性。其余6份血清（1.4%）被确认为不确定，被排除在进一步分析之外。基于性别（P值 = 0.706）或国籍（P值 = 0.112）未发现显著差异。趋势检验（Mantel-Haenszel；Kendall Tau-b）的应用显示出显著趋势（分别为P < 0.024和P < 0.032），随着年龄组从较低（84.2%）到较高（93.0%），抗水痘血清学阳性状态的检出概率增加。考虑18至49岁的女性人群，抗水痘抗体的血清流行率为88.4%，易感性为11.6%，突出了孕期感染的风险。水痘疫苗的引入对托斯卡纳乃至整个意大利的公共卫生产生了重大影响。然而，应进一步努力减少成年后仍易感的个体数量，尤其要关注育龄妇女，并通过大众媒体、社交媒体和机构网站促进疫苗接种。
