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Seroepidemiological study of the transmission of the mumps virus in St Lucia, West Indies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

M. J. Cox ,
R. M. Anderson ,
D. A. P. Bundy ,
D. J. Nokes ,
J. M. Didier ,
I. Simmons  and
J. Catherine
M. J. Cox
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, London SW7 2BB
R. M. Anderson
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, London SW7 2BB
D. A. P. Bundy
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, London SW7 2BB
D. J. Nokes
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, London SW7 2BB
J. M. Didier
Affiliation:
Parasite Epidemiology Project, P.O. Box 306, Castries, St Lucia
I. Simmons
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Castries, St Lucia
J. Catherine
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Castries, St Lucia
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A seroepidemiological study of the prevalence of mumps virus specific antibodies reveals a pattern of endemic peristence on the island of St Lucia in the West Indies. In the unvaccinated population the proportion seropositive rose rapidly in the child age classes to attain a stable plateau close to unity in value in the teenage and adult age groups. The average age at infection was estimated to be between 3 and 4 years of age and the average duration of detectable levels of maternally derived antibodies was approximately 3 months. Analyses based on mathematical models of the transmission dynamics of the virus suggest that in excess of 75% of each cohort of 1-to 2-year-old children must be effectively immunized to eliminate mumps virus transmission. A mumps radial haemolysis test, developed for quantitative measurements of antibody, is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 102 , Issue 1 , February 1989 , pp. 147 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

References

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