PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA VIRUS IGM ANTIBODIES AMONG STUDENT IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA

PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA VIRUS IGM ANTIBODIES AMONG STUDENT IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA

ABSTRACT

This study determined the prevalence of rubella virus IgM antibodies among student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. Rubella rapid test kits were used for the study, while questionnaire was used to obtain demographic factors or information from the respondents. The study adopted simple random sampling techniques to select the respondents from the population of students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. A total of one hundred and eighty (180) blood samples were collected by finger prick, out of which 5 samples tested positive with prevalence rate of 2.8%. Out of the one hundred and eighty (180) samples collected, 70 were male with 3 being positive at a prevalence rate of 4.29% while 110 participants were female with 2 being positive at a prevalence rate of 1.82%.  This study also revealed the prevalence rate with respect to age group where 2.29% prevalence rate were recorded among age group of 19-22 and 2.35% among age of 23-26 years old. With regards to level of education, a prevalence rate of 6.90% was recorded among ND I students, 1.56%, 2.90% for NDII and HND I respectively. The prevalence rate in respect to no of sex partners revealed 3.13% for participants without sex partners, 2.38 for participants with one (1)  sex partners and 2.78% for those with two (2) sex partners. The prevalence rate of 2.8% recorded in this shows Rubella virus is not endemic in the study area but for action from all stakeholders to ensure that is maintained and possibly bring to the minimum level.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                                  INTRODUCTION

Rubella is also known as German measles or three-day measles. Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus. This disease is often mild with half of people not realizing that they are infected. Rubella virus belongs to the family Maltonaviridae, genus of Rubivirus “RNA Virus” (Roush, and Baldy, 2012).

The symptoms of Rubella infection include a rash, low-grade, fever, arthralgia and lymphadenopathy. In most cases, the disease is self-limiting and rarely causes complications. Never the less it causes congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS) when the infection occurs during the first trimester of gestation. Complications of CRS may include miscarriage and severe abnormalities of fetus such as cataract, retinopathy, heart defects, neurological deficits and deafness (Ching-Chiange et al., 2010).

No antiviral drugs are available for treating Rubella or preventing transmission to the fetus. Vaccination programs are regarded as an effective tool to eliminate Rubella and congenital Rubella (Metcalf et al., 2012). Rubella also called 3-day measles or German measles is an acute contagious viral infection transmitted by aerosol, direct contact or vertically, affecting mostly susceptible children, young adults and pregnant women the world over (Hamkar et al., 2005; Willey et al., 2011).  Majorly, due to its teratogenic effects, the virus is considered a public health concern and the infection characterized by multiple birth defects of the brain, heart, eyes and ears known as congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS) (WHO, 2012; Brooks et al., 2013). It is estimated that congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS) is often seen in 94% of infants born to  women  who  are infected with Rubella virus just prior to conception or  during  the  first  trimester  of  pregnancy  with spontaneous abortion, foetal resorption and  intrauterine  foetal  death  considered  as  adverse effects (Metcalf et al., 2012; Metcalf et al., 2013).

A global estimate of 110,000 babies are born with congenital Rubella syndrome annually with 1-4 cases per 1000 live births during outbreaks world health organization (WHO 2012,) in spite of the fact that, infection with Rubella virus is vaccine preventable.  With a comprehensive vaccination programme in the developed world, the incidence of CRS has greatly reduced, however, the developing world, Nigeria inclusive havenot fully implemented the Rubella vaccine in their national immunization programme despite reports of wide circulation of the virus in Asia and Africa (Goodson et al., 2011; Brooks et al., 2013). Infection with the virus gives a lifelong immunity. 

Rubella usually begins with low-grade fever and a morbilliform rash appearing on the same day. It starts on the face, extends over the trunk and extremities and rarely last more than 3 days. No features of rash are pathogenomonic for Rubella. Unless an epidemic occurs, the disease is difficult to diagnose clinically, as the rash caused by other viruses (e.g enteroviruses) is similar and however, the diseases pose a particular threat to the developing fetus if contracted during early pregnancy. In utero, infection of the fetus may result in congenital deformity or other consequences of congenital Rubella syndrome (Brooks et al., 2013).

Rubella epidemics are, or have been a worldwide phenomenon. Before the introduction of vaccine in countries such as Australia, United States of America, the United Kingdom and European Countries. Rubella epidemic occurred in cycles of 6-9 years’ interval. In USA, before the introduction of the vaccine, a single epidemic resulted in 20000 infants being born with permanent damage due to intrauterine infection with Rubella virus while the immune status of many populations regarding Rubella is less clear, some data have been reported (Goodson et al., 2011). In Saudi Arabia, the antibody prevalence among girls aged 5-25 years has been reported to be 92%. In some Africa countries, 80% of children have been found to be positive for Rubella antibodies by the age of 10 years. Post-epidemic Rubella antibody prevalence in Nigeria has been found to be 92% among pregnant women, with susceptibility associated with a younger age (Kolawole et al., 2014). In Eritrea, the prevalence of antibodies to Rubella has been reported to be as high as 99% in some female population. Nigeria, Rubella antibody prevalence in women of child bearing age has been reported to be 77%. Some of these studies have reported an early age of exposure to Rubella and the highest sero-prevalence has been seen in age group as young as 5-9 years and in pre-school children. (Goodson, 2011).

1.1       Statement of the Problem

Rubella is an acute, usually mild, contagious disease caused by rubella virus which has become a global challenge in most developing countries such as Nigeria (Adeboye et al., 2011). In Nasarawa state, it is one of the major causes of infant mortality and deformities in children. The un-noticeable nature of rubella virus infection in many cases particularly among pregnant women has contributed to the persistent of the disease. This ugly situation has contributed to the steady increase in congenital rubella syndrome and infant mortality (Adeboye et al., 2011).

Rubella virus infection was initially thought to occur only in children, but it was later found it can affect all ages and sexes (Kolawole and Adekeye, 2017), and can affect several organs including eyes, ears, heart, brain and endocrine system (Gubio et al., 2015). Rubella virus has the ability to cross the placenta of the infected pregnant mother in its first trimester and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and congenital rubella syndrome to the baby and even mother death (Bouthry et al., 2014; Priyanka et al., 2017).

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine against rubella virus infection, an estimate of over 100,000 infants globally is born with congenital rubella syndrome annually (Priyanka et al., 2016). The prevalence of rubella virus infection has been estimated in several African countries, ranging between 70-90% (Pennap et al., 2009; Mwambe et al., 2014). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2012) reported that Rubella cases have increased in Nigeria from 450 in 2010 to 6,691 in 2020 (Olajide et al., 2012). In Nigeria, rubella antibody prevalence in women of child bearing age has been reported to be 77% in Nasarawa. Rubella virus infection poses a great threat to the Nigerian populace, Nasarawa and Federal Polytechnic students in particular, therefore screening of the students will provide the baseline information on the prevalence rate; with the view of formulating appropriate policy for the control measures. This study is therefore carried out to determine the rubella virus IgM antibodies among student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

1.2       Justification for the study

This research can be justified because of scarcity or dearth of electronic and printed data on Rubella in Nasarawa and its environs. It is important to know the spread viral pathogen.

1.3       Aim of the study

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Rubella virus IgM antibodies among students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

1.4       Specific Objectives

The specific objectives were to:

1.      Determine the prevalence of Rubella antibody in relation to demographic factors such as age, gender and education

2.      Determine the prevalence of Rubella IgM antibodies among the studied population.