Screening for anti-rubella virus IgG antibodies in sera of unmarried childbearing age females from Damascus, a and Daraa governorates

Abstract EN

Background & Objective: It is to estimate the actual risk of exposure to Rubella virus infection in susceptible childbearing age females, in south Syria, reflecting the potential of developing Congenital Rubella Syndrome at future pregnancy, and to explore the existence of any epidemiological association between age, or geographic area, and titer of anti-Rubella antibodies.

Methods & Materials: A cohort of 141 unmarried childbearing age females (18-25 years old), from Damascus and Daraa governorates, was subjected to screening for, and titration of anti-Rubella IgG antibodies in their sera by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay.

Results: 8% of childbearing age females form Damascus and Daraa governorates enrolled in this study hadn’t adequate protective anti-Rubella antibodies titers, and they might be at risk of later natural Rubella virus infection at pregnancy.

Also an association between age, or geographic area, of these females, and their obtained anti-Rubella antibodies titers could not be proved.

Conclusion: The presented study demonstrated the importance of continuous surveillance system for evaluating the efficiency of enrolled Rubella vaccination programs in Syria, and the importance of harmonization of assays used for determination of immunity against Rubella virus.

Also the need for introducing a mandatory booster dose of Rubella vaccine to pubescent females, to reduce the incidence of Congenital Rubella Syndrome.