Rubella seroimmunity 6 years after the public vaccination against rubella-measles among students of conservatory Besat Hospital of IRI Air Force

Rubella is a viral and acute disease which can be observed in children and adults by symptoms such as lymphoid glands inflammation and dermatitis. Its public health importance is related to teratogenic effects of primary rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy. Infection in this period of pregnancy causes various anomalies such as cataract، glaucoma، deafness، coronaryvascular disease، pneumonia، encephalitis، bone damage، blood disorders، interference with the function of endocrine glands and low weight birth. In this cross-sectional study the seroprevalence of anti-rubella IgG antibodies investigated in 100 students of conservatory Be''sat army hospital by ELISA. The cut-off values of more than 11 IU/ml was considered positive for rubella antibodies. The population divided into two groups: smoker and non smoker which indicated smoking status in their families. BMI groups: <20، 20-25، 25-30، >30. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS ver. 16 software and chi-square test and p<0. 05 was considered significant. In 6% sera tested IgG antibody to rubella was under the 11 IU/ml and this population was not immune against rubella. In 94% sera tested IgG antibody more than11 IU/ml and was positive for anti-rubella. There were no statistically significant relation between smoking and antibody levels and also between different BMI groups and antibody levels. The results showed that the immunity to rubella virus has increased. Therefore، with presence of high immunity of pregnant women to rubella virus، public vaccination against rubella is not recommended.