[Serological determination of anti-mumps immunity in a population sample from Palermo]

A seroepidemiological survey was performed by an immunoglobulin G antibody-capture immunoassay on 1061 subjects from Palermo (Sicily), throughout the age range from birth up to 50 years. A proportional increase of seropositivity rate to mumps virus was shown in relation to increasing age, from 17.5% in the earliest years up to 60.3% in children aged 10 years. After the first decade of life, seropositivity rate reached a plateau staying constant up to the upper age classes explored. Given the relatively high frequency of complications upon mumps infection, it is suggested that an extended vaccination policy could cover a proportion of the non-immune adult subjects.