Objective: To determine the age related prevalence of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) antibodies in India.
Setting: This was a cross sectional multicentric study performed in 4 major cities of India: Calcutta (outpatients), Mumbai (outpatients), Lucknow (walk-in patients to a diagnostic laboratory, orphanage and factory workers) and Bangalore (outpatients and walk-in patients to a diagnostic laboratory).
Methods: A total of 1609 volunteers from birth to 40 years of age were included into the study. IgG antibodies against VZV were determined using commercial kits (ELISA-Enzygnost).
Results: Overall seroprevalence of anti VZV antibodies was 68. 22percnt. The age related seroprevalence rate of anti VZV antibodies was 29percnt in the age group of 1-5 years, 51.1percnt in 5-10 years, 71.7percnt in 11-15 years, 79.8percnt in 16-20 years, 88.1percnt in 21-30 years and 91.1percnt in 31-40 years.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of adolescents and adults are susceptible to varicella in India, as in other tropical countries