Skip to main content
Log in

Seroepidemiology of measles in Catalonia (Spain) 1985–1986

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A seroepidemiological study of measles immunological status was carried out among four different populations: schoolchildren of 6–7 years, 10–11 years and 13–14 years, and pregnant women of 18–45 years, in Catalonia, Spain; 1,213 children and 239 pregnant women were surveyed. The measurement of measles antibodies was made by indirect immunofluorescence, with antibody titres ≥ 1:8 considered as positive.

The prevalence of measles antibodies was 82.9% in the 6–7 year old group, 87.2%, in the 10–11 year old group and 94.4% in the age group 13–14 years. Among pregnant women, the prevalence of antibodies was 96.2%.

Two of the variables studied were associated with the prevalence of measles antibodies in schoolchildren: the disease antecedents and measles vaccination. In pregnant women aged 18–45 no variable had any stastically significant association with the prevalence of measles antibodies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ArroyoM., AliaJ.M., MateoM.L., CarrascoJ.L., BallesterosF. and LardinoisR. (1986): Natural immunity to measles, rubella and mumps among Spanish children in the pre-vaccination era. - Int. J. Epidemiol. 15: 95–100.

    Google Scholar 

  2. BlackE. W. and NakanoJ.H. (1978):Naturally acquired measles immunity in Nepal and Sri Lanka. -Trop. Geogr. Med. t30: 103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  3. BlackF. (1989): Measles In: Viral Infections of humans. Epidemiology and Control. Evans AS (Ed.) 3rd. ed. New York, Plenum Press, pp. 451–469.

    Google Scholar 

  4. BlackF.L. (1959): Serological epidemiology in measles. - Yale J. Biol. Med. 32: 44–50.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Black F.L. (1962): Measles antibody prevalence in diverse populations. - Am. J. Dis. Child., 955–960.

  6. BottingerM., ChristensonB., Romanus V.et al. (1987): Swedish experience of two dose vaccination programme aiming at eliminating measles, mumps and rubella. - Br. Med. J. 295: 1264–1267.

    Google Scholar 

  7. ChristensonB., BotiguerM. and HellerL. (1983): Mass vaccination programme aimed at eradicating measles, mumps and rubella in Sweden: First experience. - Br. Med. J. 287: 389–390.

    Google Scholar 

  8. CochranW.C. (1983): Sampling techniques. Willey New York.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social (1984): Generalitat de Catalunya Butll. Epidem. Catal. 6: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social (1987): Manual de Vacunacions. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.

  11. Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social (1987): Manual de Vacunacions. 2nd. ed. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social (1989): Generalitat de Catalunya Butll. Epidem. Catal. 2: 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  13. DittmannS., StarkeG., OvklizH.W., GrahneisH. and GieseckeH. (1976): The measles eradication programme in the German Democratic Republic. -Bull. WHO 53: 21–23.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Editorial (1986): Measles vaccine once or MMR twice. - Lancet ii: 671.

  15. FrankJ.R., OrensteinW.A., Bart K.J.et al. (1985): Major impediments measles elimination. - Am. J. Dis. Child 139: 881–888.

    Google Scholar 

  16. FultonR.E. and MiddletonP.J. (1975): Immunofluorescence in diagnosis of measles infections in children. - J. Pediatr. 86: 17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  17. HendersonR.H. and SundaresanT. (1982): Cluster sampling to assess immunization coverage: a review of esperience with a simplified sampling method. -Bull WHO 60: 245–260.

    Google Scholar 

  18. HinmanA.R., Brandling-BennetA.D. and NieburgP.I. (1979): The opportunity and obligation to eliminate measles from United States. - JAMA 242: 1157–1162.

    Google Scholar 

  19. HinmanA.R., EddingD., BernierR.H. and Bart K.J. (1983): Elimination of indigenous Measles from the United States. - Rev. Infect. Dis. 5: 538–545.

    Google Scholar 

  20. KennyM.T. (1976): Age related immunity to measles, mumps and rubella in middle America and United States Children. - Am. J. Epid. 103: 174–180.

    Google Scholar 

  21. MMWR (1983): Classification of measles cases and categorization of measles infections programs. -MMWR 31: 707–711.

    Google Scholar 

  22. PardellH., CoboE. and CanelaJ. (1986): Manual de Bioestadística. Barcelona: Ed. Masson pp. 81–92.

    Google Scholar 

  23. PeltolaH., KarankoV., KurkiT. and HukkanenV. (1986): Rapid effect on endemic measles, mumps and rubella of nationwide vaccination programme in Finland. - Lancet i: 137–139.

    Google Scholar 

  24. RaboE. and TarangerJ. (1984): Scandinavian model for eliminating measles, mumps and rubella. - Br. Med. J. 289: 1402–1404.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rumeau-RouquetteC., BreartG. and PadieuR. (1985): Méthodes en Epidémiologie, Paris, Flammarion ed. pp. 355–358.

    Google Scholar 

  26. SantoroR., RuggeriP.M., BatagliaM. and RapicettaM. (1984): Measles Epidemiology in Italy. - Int. J. Epidemiol. 13: 201–209.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sejda J. (1983): Control of measles in Czechoslovakia. - Rev. Inf. Dis. 564–567.

  28. TarangerJ. (1983): Vaccination programme for eradication of measles, mumps and rubella. - Lancet ii: 915–916.

    Google Scholar 

  29. WalkerD., CarterH. and JonezI. (1986): Measles, mumps and rubella: The need for a change in immunization policy. - Br. Med. J. 292: 1501–1502.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salleras, L., Vidal, J., Canela, J. et al. Seroepidemiology of measles in Catalonia (Spain) 1985–1986. Eur J Epidemiol 6, 207–211 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145795

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145795

Key words

Navigation