High varicella zoster virus susceptibility in Caribbean island populations: Implications for vaccination.
OBJECTIVES
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is reported regularly among adolescents and adults in Caribbean island populations. The disease more often runs a severe course among these populations, causing a substantial burden. The aim of this sero-epidemiological study was to obtain an insight into VZV susceptibility and its determinants in island populations of the Caribbean Netherlands (CN).


METHODS
Participants from Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (n = 1829, aged 0-90 years) donated a blood sample and completed a questionnaire. VZV-specific IgG antibodies were determined using a bead-based multiplex immunoassay. Risk factors were analysed using a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
Overall seroprevalence in CN was 78%, being lowest on St. Eustatius (73%) and highest on Bonaire and Saba (79%). Seropositivity increased gradually with age, with 60% and 80% at ages 10 years and 30 years, respectively, and ranging between 80% and 90% thereafter. Higher odds for VZV seronegativity were seen among persons who were born in CN or had resided there since early childhood, and among single-person households.


CONCLUSIONS
VZV susceptibility is relatively high among adolescents and adults in CN. In order to reduce the burden of VZV-related disease in these populations, routine varicella vaccination is recommended. As data are scarce, the study findings can serve as a blueprint for the epidemiology in tropical regions.
['Vos|Regnerus A|RA|', 'Mollema|Liesbeth|L|', 'van Boven|Michiel|M|', 'van Lier|Alies|A|', 'Smits|Gaby|G|', 'Janga-Jansen|Alcira V A|AVA|', 'Baboe-Kalpoe|Sharda|S|', 'Hulshof|Koen|K|', 'Stienstra|Ymkje|Y|', 'van der Klis|Fiona R M|FRM|', 'de Melker|Hester E|HE|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000914:Antibodies, Viral D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D004198:Disease Susceptibility D005260:Female D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human D006801:Humans D007074:Immunoglobulin G D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D062312:Islands D016015:Logistic Models D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012307:Risk Factors D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D000073618:Varicella Zoster Virus Infection D014765:Viral Vaccines D055815:Young Adult
Varicella zoster virus Caribbean islands Vaccination Sero-epidemiology Chickenpox Herpes zoster