Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science
Volume 26, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 154-159

Immunity status to polioviruses among non-European union immigrants in Veneto Region (North-East Italy) (Article)

Trivello R.* , Ngatchu T. , Marin V. , Moretti G. , Malatesta R. , Maini P. , Moschen M.E. , Baldo V. , De Marzi L. , Majori S. , Puppo A. , Renzulli G.
  • a Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy, Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Via Loredan, 18, 35131 Padova, Italy
  • b Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • c Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • d Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • e Public Health Department, Padua Local Health Unit, Padua, Italy
  • f Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  • g Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • h Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • i Public Health Department, Padua Local Health Unit, Padua, Italy
  • j Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  • k Public Health Department, Treviso Local Health Unit, Treviso, Italy
  • l Public Health Department, Padua Local Health Unit, Padua, Italy

Abstract

Widespread use of poliovirus vaccines has lead to a dramatic decline on the incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis in the Western Hemisphere. In Italy, the use of live attenuated vaccine (OPV) has lead to virtual eradication of poliomyelitis. However, wild poliovirus is still endemic in some less developed countries, and there is still a risk of importation of wild-virus poliomyelitis as result of immigration from these areas. Therefore, a serologic study of the immunologic status to poliovirus was carried out in 242 immigrants from less developed countries in the Veneto Region (North- East Italy). The overall prevalence of serum neutralizing antibodies was 98.3 percent for poliovirus type 1,99.6 percent for type 2, and 95.9 percent for type 3. The modal titres were 1:128 (21.1 percent(, 1:512 (26.4 percent), and 1:32 (22.3 percent) for poliovirus type 1, type 2, and type 3, respectively. No subject was simultaneously lacking neutralizing antibodies to all three polioviruses. The mean duration of stay in Italy before testing was 1.53 years (range 1 month to 7 years). These results show a good level of the immunity status, similar to those found in the Veneto general population. Although the risk of paralytic poliomyelitis in our population is very low, seronegative immigrants originating from areas of high endemicity could reintroduce wild poliovirus. It is therefore important to maintain a careful surveillance system on the importation of wild poliovirus and to plan vaccination programs for unprotected immigrants.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant antibody blood level Antibodies, Viral Poliovirus Developing Countries human Poliomyelitis virus middle aged priority journal Aged immunity Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated Humans Adolescent male female poliomyelitis vaccine Article adult normal human Emigration and Immigration Italy vaccination poliomyelitis Mutation neutralizing antibody Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-9044225144&partnerID=40&md5=8189626399d1c017cdad493da118fd67
ISSN: 00917370
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English