Serum levels of anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies among vaccinated children aged 1 to 12 years in a rural community in Fars Province, southern Iran. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arefkhah, Nasir; Vafazadeh, Sina; Shahriarirad, Sepehr; Ghorbani, Fariba; Zoghi, Sina; Emami, Mehdi; Zamiri, Bardia; Cheraghi, Mohammad Reza; Sarvari, Jamal; Sarkari, Bahador
• Is Part Of: Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry. Volume 41:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Anti-hepatitis B antibodies -- vaccinated -- children -- rural community -- Fars Province -- Iran; Immunoassay -- Periodicals; Immunochemistry -- Periodicals; Immunoassay -- periodicals; Immunochemistry -- periodicals; 571.96405
• DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2019.1675696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-1819

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to find out the levels of anti-HBsAb among vaccinated children in a rural community in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Blood samples were taken from 550 children, aged 1–12 years (mean 6.4 ± 3.5), in 2017 from three villages in the area. A structured questionnaire was used to get the sociodemographic data of the subjects along with determinants concerning the Hepatitis B. Sera samples were examined for anti-HBsAb, using an ELISA commercial kit. Anti-HBsAb were detected in 468 (85.1%) of the subjects. Of the seropositive subjects, 37 (45.1%) were female and 45 (54.9%) were male. In the age group of 0–5 years, 88.7% of the subjects were seropositive. This rate was 84.3% and 78.1% in the age group of 6–10 years old and older than 10 years, respectively. There was a significant association ( p < .05) between the anti-HBsAb and age. Findings of the current study revealed that children living in a rural community in southern Iran have appropriate protection against HBV even more than 10 years after being vaccinated. The decline in seropositivity rate of anti-HBsAb with age may further point out the need for a booster dose of HBV vaccine.