Varicella zoster virus in American Samoa: seroprevalence and predictive value of varicella disease history in elementary and college students

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 142; no. 5; pp. 1002 - 1007
• Main Authors: MAHAMUD, A., LEUNG, J., MASUNU-FALEAFAGA, Y., TESHALE, E., WILLIAMS, R., DULSKI, T., THIEME, M., GARCIA, P., SCHMID, D. S., BIALEK, S. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; American Samoa - epidemiology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Chicken pox; Chickenpox; Chickenpox - epidemiology; Chickenpox - immunology; Chickenpox vaccines; Child; Child, Preschool; College students; Community colleges; Disease; Elementary school students; Epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepatitis; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infectious diseases; Islands; Male; Medical laboratories; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Original Papers; Questionnaires; Rubella vaccines; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Tropical medicine; United States history; Vaccines; Varicella Zoster; Varicella zoster encephalitis; Varicella-zoster virus; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Virology; Young Adult; Polynesia; Samoa; Oceania; American Samoa; United States > US; ISE, Pacific, American Samoa; I, Central Pacific, Pacific Ocean Is; seroprevalence; American Samoa; varicella-zoster virus; chickenpox; varicella; Infection; Virus; Varicella zoster virus; Skin disease; Prevalence; Herpesviridae; Viral disease; Alphaherpesvirinae; Varicella; Serology; Student; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S095026881300174X

The epidemiology of varicella is believed to differ between temperate and tropical countries. We conducted a varicella seroprevalence study in elementary and college students in the US territory of American Samoa before introduction of a routine varicella vaccination programme. Sera from 515 elementary and 208 college students were tested for the presence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG antibodies. VZV seroprevalence increased with age from 76·0% in the 4–6 years group to 97·7% in those aged ⩾23 years. Reported history of varicella disease for elementary students was significantly associated with VZV seropositivity. The positive and negative predictive values of varicella disease history were 93·4% and 36·4%, respectively, in elementary students and 97·6% and 3·0%, respectively, in college students. VZV seroprevalence in this Pacific island appears to be similar to that in temperate countries and suggests endemic VZV circulation.