Garnett G P, Cox M J, Bundy D A, Didier J M, St Catharine J
Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.
Epidemiol Infect. 1993 Apr;110(2):361-72. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800068308.
Sera from an age-stratified sample of 1810 people from the Caribbean island of St Lucia were tested for antibodies against varicella-zoster virus. The results indicate that very few infections occur in childhood, which agrees with clinical survey data from other tropical countries, but contrasts with the observed high case rate in children in temperate countries. The alternative hypotheses which may explain these results are discussed, and it is suggested that high ambient temperatures interfere with the transmission of the virus. Irrespective of the cause, the pattern of varicella incidence observed has important implications for any vaccination policy adopted in tropical countries.
对来自加勒比海岛国圣卢西亚的1810名不同年龄段人群的血清样本进行了水痘带状疱疹病毒抗体检测。结果表明,儿童期感染该病毒的情况极少,这与其他热带国家的临床调查数据相符,但与温带国家儿童中观察到的高发病率形成对比。本文讨论了可能解释这些结果的其他假设,并指出高环境温度可能会干扰病毒传播。无论原因如何,观察到的水痘发病模式对热带国家采取的任何疫苗接种政策都具有重要意义。