[Acute rubella virus infection in women of reproductive age in Vojvodina 1994-1995]

Abstract

In order to establish rubella virus serologic status in 1034 women of reproductive age in Vojvodina during a two year period, 319 nonpregnant and 715 pregnant women were examined. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of occurrence of acute rubella virus infections in women of reproductive age; to establish levels of sensitivity to rubella virus, as well as the impact of pregnancy on values of titer antihemagglutinine (HI--hemagglution inhibition) antibodies. By determining immune status against rubella in women of reproductive age high risk groups can be established so that severe consequences of congenital rubella can be prevented. On the basis of titer values of the virus rubella HI antibodies in even samples of sera it has been established that 97.3% of women of reproductive age in Vojvodina in 1994-1995 are immune to rubella. In this period 2.7% of women were established to be vulnerable to rubella virus infection. On the basis of established IgM antibodies acute rubella was detected in 0.31% of nonpregnant women. 26.85% of pregnant women made risky contacts considering whole period of pregnancy. In such circumstances the percentage of pregnant women with acute infection in Vojvodina during the period 1994-1995 is low and makes 0.28%.