Study of Refugees and Residents Immunity for Measles Virus in Babylon Governorate-Iraq

Summary: The study was conducted to evaluate the herd immunity for both refugees and residents vaccinated with measles virus vaccine against measles infection in Babylon governorate. Therefore this study included the titration of the immune status in sera of Babylon governorate refugees and residents. The immune response was evaluated by mean of ELISA test (enzyme linked immune sorbet assay) for titration of IgM and IgG immunoglobulin level, in addition to evaluation of perforin level in the sera of 90 individuals included in this study (50 refugees and 40 resident) from different governorate area, that were collected during the period extent from January up to April of 2016. Data about included individuals were fiixed according to information of formula that age, sex, geographical location, place displace of refugees and the vaccination date. The age of subjects included in this study range from Ranged <1 year up to 24 years old. The results revealed 15 (30%) positive IgM index in sera of refugees, whereas resident sera sample shown jest 6 (15%) positivity. While all 90 (100%) subject of both groups reflected positive IgG index. The result of present study shown also non-significant differences of perforin level in sera of refugees and residents at p<0.05. Assaying of immune response against measles virus by measuring IgM immunoglobulin in sera of vaccinated refugees and resident with measles vaccine reflected a high significant differences between two groups which reach 0.43 mIU/ml in sera of refugees in comparison with resident sera which reach 0.34 mIU/ml. The result shown also high significant differences in IgM between females and males. The female sera IgM level of refugees and residents was higher than its level in male sera. It reach 0.47 mIU/ml and 0.35 mIU/ml, respectively, in comparison with male sera level which reach 0.40 mIU/ml and 0.32 mIU/ml, respectively as well. According to age group the highest IgM value was recorded in refugees and residents sera in age 10-14 (0.50 mIU/ml) years and 5-9 (0.36 mIU/ml) years old respectively. Whereas the lowest IgM serum value was detected in age group <1 (0.34 mIU/ml) year old and 15-19 (0.31 mIU/ml) years old for refugees and residents subjects. According to geographical location the highest IgM level was detected in serum of refugees from Tal Afar city (0.44 mIU/ml) followed by refugees from Ramadi (0.41 mIU/ml) and the lowest IgM value was detected in sera of refugees from Mosul city (0.33 mIU/ml). Whereas the highest IgM value in sera of residents in subject of Mahaweel city (0.37 mIU/ml) followed by subject of Hilla and Qasem city (0.29 mIU/ml and 0.28 mIU/ml) respectively. For IgG serum immunoglobulin the result revealed no significant level in both group population. But according to age groups a significant differences between refugees and residents was detected at p <0.05 in which the 1-4 years old shown the highest IgG serum level in both group (1.98 mIU/ml and 2.18 mIU/ml) respectively. While the lowest IgG sera value was recorded in refugees age group of < 1 year old (0.60 mIU/ml) compared with residents age group of 20-24 years old (1.65 mIU/ml).