Purpose: to evaluate the immune status of women in reproductive age regarding the rubella virus. Methods: 2,243 samples of serum from women in the age range of 15 to 45 years, with an average of 26 years, living in the urban area of Natal, RN were analyzed, to evaluate the immune status in regard to rubella virus. Of these women, 1,170 (52.1%) were pregnant and 1,073 (47.9%) were not. IgM and IgG antibodies were determined, using solid phase ELISA and fluorescence (ELFA) techniques. Results: of the 2,243 women, 1,632 showed immunity to rubella virus and 611 did not, therefore being susceptible to this virus. The rates of immunity and susceptibility in this study were 73.0% and 27.0%, respectively. In 611 susceptible woman, 14.5% did not present antibodies against rubella virus, 7.7% had only IgM antibody and 4.8% had IgG and IgM antibodies. Conclusions: our findings show that a significant group of women from Natal, in reproductive age, is still susceptible to rubella virus, indicating the risk of congenital infection by this pathogen. We advise the selective vaccination of those women against rubella to prevent clinical manifestations related to the congenital form of the disease.
Rubella; Immune status regarding rubella
