Serodetection of Rubella Virus Antibodies among Infants in Khartoum State

Abstract

The aim of this study was to serodetect rubella IgM and IgG rubella antibodies in infants using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assy (ELISA). Venous blood samples were collected from a total of 100 infants from Dr.Jaafar Ibnuf Specialized Pediatric Hospital and Dream Specialized Hospitals. Out of the 100 infants 46 were males (46%) and 54 were females (54%).Eighty five (85) were less than 3 months (85%), 11 infants were between 3 and 6 months (11%) and 4 infants were more than 6 months (4%).Out of 100 blood samples examined by the 4th generation ELISA. Eight(8) infants were positive anti-rubella IgM (8%) and 92 infants were negative anti-rubella IgM (92%). The results also showed that 89 infants were positive anti-rubella IgG (89%) and 11infants were negative anti-rubella IgG (11%). Out of the 8 IgM positive 6were females and 2 were males and out of the 89 infants IgG positive, 39 were females and 50 were males, there was no significant relationship between gender and results (p-value <0.05). The results also showed that out of The positive IgM, 7 were less than 3 months and 1 was above 6 months. It was also observed that from the 89 positive IgG, 76 were less than 3 months of age, 9 between 3 to 6 months and 4 were more than 6 moths and there was no significant relationship between age and results (p-value <0.05). This study indicated that the age and gender of infants were not major risk factors associated with rubella infection and frequency of rubella IgM and IgG among infants was 8% and 89%.