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Gabutti G, Grassi T, Bagordo F, Savio M, Rota MC, Castiglia P, Baldovin T, Napolitano F, Panico A, Ogliastro M, Trombetta CM, Ditommaso S, Tramuto F. Sero-Epidemiological Study of Varicella in the Italian General Population. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020306. [PMID: 36851184 PMCID: PMC9967034 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of varicella in Italy and to evaluate the impact of varicella vaccination, which has been mandatory for newborns since 2017. The levels of VZV-specific IgG antibodies were determined by the ELISA method in residual serum samples obtained from subjects aged between 6 and 64 years and residing in 13 Italian regions. Overall, 3746 serum samples were collected in the years 2019 and 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 91.6% (89.9% in males and 93.3% in females; p = 0.0002). Seroprevalence showed an increasing trend (p < 0.0001) starting in the younger age groups: 6-9 years: 84.1%; 10-14 years: 88.7%; 15-19 years: 89.3%; 20-39 years: 93.1% and >40 years: 97.0%. The seroprevalence data obtained in the present study were compared with those relating to previous sero-epidemiological surveys conducted, respectively, in the years 1996-1997, 2003-2004 and 2013-2014, taking into consideration only data from regions monitored in all surveillance campaigns. The comparison highlighted for the period 2019-2020 showed significantly higher values in the age groups 6-9 (p < 0.001), 10-14 (p = 0.018) and 15-19 years (p = 0.035), while in adults, the trend did not change over time (ns). These results highlight the positive impact of varicella vaccination in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gabutti
- National Coordinator of the Working Group “Vaccines and Immunization Policies”, Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 16030 Cogorno, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-347-8889342
| | - Tiziana Grassi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Bagordo
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Marta Savio
- Post-Graduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Rota
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Italian Institute of Health (ISS), 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Paolo Castiglia
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Tatjana Baldovin
- Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Napolitano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Panico
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Matilde Ogliastro
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16126 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Savina Ditommaso
- Department of Sciences of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Tramuto
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Zanella B, Boccalini S, Biamonte MA, Giorgetti D, Menicacci M, Bonito B, Ninci A, Tiscione E, Puggelli F, Mereu G, Bonanni P, Bechini A. A Study of Hepatitis A Seroprevalence in a Paediatric and Adolescent Population of the Province of Florence (Italy) in the Period 2017-2018 Confirms Tuscany a Low Endemic Area. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1194. [PMID: 34696301 PMCID: PMC8538179 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Italy is considered an area with very low HAV (hepatitis A virus) endemicity. Currently in Italy the anti-HAV vaccine is recommended only for specific risk groups and there is no universal vaccination program. The aim of this study was to assess the level of immunity against hepatitis A in a sample of children and adolescents from the province of Florence. Methods: A total of 165 sera were collected from subjects aged 1 to 18 years, proportionally selected according to the general population size and stratified by age and sex. A qualitative evaluation of anti-HAV antibodies was performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anamnestic and vaccination status data were also collected. Results: Our study showed a hepatitis A seroprevalence of 9.1% in the enrolled population. A statistically significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HAV was found between Italian and non-Italian subjects. About half of the population having anti-HAV antibodies was reported to be vaccinated, and no cases of hepatitis A were found. Conclusions: The data from our study confirmed Tuscany as an area with low HAV endemicity and showed that hepatitis A seroprevalence is significantly higher in foreign children and adolescents. The presence of more seropositive subjects than those vaccinated was probably due to a natural immunization achieved through a subclinical infection and/or to underreporting of the surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Zanella
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Sara Boccalini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.A.B.); (D.G.); (M.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Duccio Giorgetti
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.A.B.); (D.G.); (M.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Marco Menicacci
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.A.B.); (D.G.); (M.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Benedetta Bonito
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Alessandra Ninci
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.A.B.); (D.G.); (M.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Emilia Tiscione
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
| | | | | | - Working Group DHS
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.A.B.); (D.G.); (M.M.); (A.N.)
| | | | | | - Paolo Bonanni
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Angela Bechini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.Z.); (S.B.); (B.B.); (E.T.); (P.B.)
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