Abstract:
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgG antibodies among the healthy individuals in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide a scientific basis for the development of prevention and control strategies for Japanese B encephalitis (JE).
Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2023 to 2024. Serum samples were collected from healthy individuals across 12 age groups (<8 months, 8 months‒<2 years, 2‒<4 years, 4‒<6 years, 6‒<8 years, 8‒<10 years, 10‒<15 years, 15‒<20 years, 20‒<30 years, 30‒<40 years, 40‒<50 years, 50‒ years) and tested for JEV IgG antibody to determine positivity rates.
Results The overall JEV IgG antibody seroprevalence rate was 57.75 % among the healthy individuals in Huzhou City. The positivity rates for the age groups of <8 months, 8 months‒<2 years, 2‒<4 years, 4‒<6 years, 6‒<8 years, 8‒<10 years, 10‒<15 years, 15‒<20 years, 20‒<30 years, 30‒<40 years, 40‒<50 years, and 50‒ years were 10.14%, 23.76%, 77.31%, 66.88%, 73.87%, 58.33%, 41.67%, 55.06%, 47.00%, 61.00%, 62.00%, and 92.00%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference observed in different age groups (χ2=243.996, P<0.001). Seroprevalence rates also differed significantly between males and females (χ2=9.999, P=0.002). Among subjects vaccinated with 0,1 or 2 doses of live attenuated Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine (JEV-L), the IgG antibody seroprevalence rate was 4.76%, 27.27% and 72.33%, respectively (χ2=108.568, P<0.001). Within the 2 doses group, the IgG antibody seroprevalence rate at <1 year, 1 year, 2 years and 3‒5 years after immunization were 80.85%, 77.36%, 66.67% and 65.45%, respectively, indicating a declining trend with time increased since vaccination (Z=-2.024, P=0.043).
Conclusion Adults aged 50‒ years maintain high antibody levels, whereas levels are lower among the age groups of <2 years and 8‒<30 years and wane with time since vaccination in Huzhou City. It is recommended to maintain the routine JE vaccination schedule while exploring booster vaccination strategies for the age groups of 8‒<30 years, in order to enhance population immunity against JEV.