A Nationwide Study on the Seroprevalence of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella in Iranian Children and Adolescents

Zary  Nokhodian; Behrooz  Ataei; Mohammad Mehdi  Gouya; Shervin  Ghaffari Hoseini; Majid  Yaran; Marjan  Mansourian; Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh; Ramin  Heshmat; Seyed Mohsen  Zahraei; Roya  Kelishadi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i2.8694

Zary Nokhodian Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Behrooz Ataei Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mohammad Mehdi Gouya Center for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Shervin Ghaffari Hoseini Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Majid Yaran Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran5
Marjan Mansourian Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Ramin Heshmat Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sci-ences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Mohsen Zahraei Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Roya Kelishadi Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i2.8694

Keywords: Measles; Mumps; Rubella; Children; Adolescents; Iran

Abstract

Background: Assessing the prevalence of infections, which are preventable by vaccination, is crucial to monitor the vaccination program efficacy, and it can demonstrate the gaps in population immunity. The current study attempted to assess the specific Immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in Iranian children and adolescents, years after their vaccination.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran. Serum samples of 2100 students, aged 7-18 years, included in a national health survey, were tested for MMR antibodies by ELISA assay. Multistage random cluster sampling was used to select subjects from 30 provinces in Iran.

Results: Overall, 1871, 1718, and 1678 serums were tested for measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies, respectively. The prevalence of positive test was 1231 (65.8%) for measles, 1327 (77.2%) for mumps and 1344 (80.1%) for rubella.

Conclusion: Despite high vaccination coverage in Iran, IgG antibody against measles, mumps, and rubella was not detected in a considerable proportion of children and adolescents aged 7-18 years. In case of contacts with residents of other countries, where measles or rubella have not yet been eliminated, it may create problems for Iranian children.