Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T08:02:52.663Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Varicella Zoster Antibodies after Herpes Zoster, Varicella and Multiple Sclerosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

R.T. Ross ,
L.E. Nicolle ,
M.R. Dawood ,
Mary Cheang  and
C. Feschuk
R.T. Ross*
Affiliation:
Section of Neurology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
L.E. Nicolle
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
M.R. Dawood
Affiliation:
The Cadham Provincial Laboratory
Mary Cheang
Affiliation:
Biostatistical Consulting Unit, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
C. Feschuk
Affiliation:
The Canadian Red Cross Society, Blood Services, Manitoba Division
*
GF535-820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1R9
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

We previously showed that Manitoba Hutterites seek physician care for varicella zoster virus infection significantly less than non-Hutterites. The current study was undertaken to measure varicella zoster virus seroprevalence for Hutterite and non-Hutterite controls.

Methods:

Blood was obtained from 315 Hutterites and 259 similar age and sex controls at the time of blood donations to The Canadian Red Cross Society. The controls were from the same or a contiguous postal code area and were collected at the same time as the Hutterite samples. The immune status of the specimens was determined by the ELISA method (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay).

Results:

Twenty-eight per cent of 315 Hutterites had no immunity and an additional 25% had only marginal immunity. Among the 259 controls, 10% had no immunity and an additional 10% had only marginal immunity (p < .0001).

Conclusions:

Manitoba Hutterites have significantly decreased seroprevalence to varicella zoster virus infection. This study of serum varicella zoster virus antibodies verifies a previous population based study that demonstrated the relative rarity of varicella and herpes zoster among a particular population group.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , May 1997 , pp. 137 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1997

References

REFERENCES

1.Ross, RT, Nicolle, LE, Cheang, M.. Varicella zoster virus and multiple sclerosis in a Hutterite population. J Clin Epidemiol 1995; 48 (2): 1319–1324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Ross, RT, Cheang, M. Geographic similarities between varicella and multiple sclerosis: an hypothesis on the environmental factor of multiple sclerosis. J Clin Epidemiol 1995; 48 (6): 731–737.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Martyn, CN. The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis. In: Matthews, WB, Compston, A, Allen, IV, Martyn, CN, eds. McAlpine’s Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd edition, Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1991; Section 1: 3–40.Google Scholar
4.Gordon, JE, Ingalls, Th. Chickenpox: an epidemiological review. Am J Med Sci 1962; 244: 363–389.Google ScholarPubMed
5.Preblud, SR, D–Angelo, LJ. Chicken-pox in the United States 1972-1977. From the Center for Disease Control. J Inf Dis 1979; 140(2): 257–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Maretic, Z, Cooray, MPM. Comparisons between chickenpox in a tropical and a European country. J Trap Med & Hyg 1963; 66: 311–315.Google Scholar
7.Sinha, D. Chicken-pox - a disease predominantly affecting adults in rural West Bengal, India. Int J of Epidemiol 1976; 5 (4): 367–374.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Takahashi, M. Herpes Viridae: varicella-zoster virus In: Lennette, EG, Holonen, P, Murphy, FA eds. Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practice. Vol 2. Viral, Rickettsial and Chlamydial Diseases. New York: Springer Verlag; 1988; 261–283.Google Scholar
9.Kuroiwa, Y, Igata, A, Itahara, K, et al. Nation-wide survey of multiple sclerosis in Japan. Neurology 1975; 25: 845–851.CrossRefGoogle Scholar