Measles and Rubella Seroprevalence Among HIV-Infected And Uninfected Zambian Youth.

Thursday, 24th of November 2016

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2016 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Measles and Rubella Seroprevalence Among HIV-Infected And Uninfected Zambian Youth.

Sutcliffe CG¹ Searle K Matakala HK Biomed D Greenman M Rainwater-Lovett K Thuma PE Moss WJ.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Measles and congenital rubella syndrome remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality despite available vaccines. HIV-infected youth may be at increased risk of measles because of greater waning immunity following vaccination. At a population level they constitute a potentially large pool of susceptibles to measles and rubella. More data among HIV-infected youth in sub-Saharan Africa are needed to guide vaccination policy and control strategies.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study was nested within two ongoing studies of malaria and HIV in Zambia. Dried blood spot cards from youth (5-15 years) in these studies from 2009-2013 were tested for IgG antibodies to measles and rubella viruses. HIV-uninfected youth HIV-infected treatment-naïve youth and HIV-infected youth receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) were compared.

RESULTS:

617 HIV-uninfected 144 HIV-infected treatment-naïve and 128 HIV-infected youth receiving ART were included in the study. The proportion seropositive for measles virus was significantly higher among HIV-uninfected youth (92.5%) compared to HIV-infected treatment-naïve youth (74.1%) and HIV-infected youth receiving ART (71.9%). No differences by age were observed. The proportion seropositive for rubella virus was significantly higher among HIV-uninfected youth (54.7%) compared with HIV-infected treatment-naïve youth (41.7%) and HIV-infected youth receiving ART (49.6%) with increases observed by age for all groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Measles seroprevalence was lower among HIV-infected than uninfected youth consistent with waning immunity following measles vaccination. HIV-infected youth would likely benefit from revaccination. Half of all youth in rural Zambia were susceptible to rubella and may need targeting for catch-up rubella campaigns when measles-rubella vaccine is introduced.