DETECTION OF MEASLES VIRUS ANTIBODIES USING ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY

Measles is an acute and extremely contagious infection that affects all age groups. The disease can be particularly severe for children and adults with weakened immune systems, often leading to serious complications [1]. Measles outbreaks have risen in recent years [2], despite broad vaccination initiatives. From 2013 to 2018, the World Health Organization reported a total of 899,800 cases of measles. This indicates that some individuals are either unvaccinated or have received only a single vaccine dose, despite the recommendation of two doses for full immunity. This study aimed to assess the presence of IgG antibodies against the measles virus in adults and to identify individuals at risk of measles infection in Lithuania. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect measles IgG antibodies in 88 participants. The results showed that 80.69% (71 out of 88) of individuals had immunity to measles, 7.95% (7 out of 88) had borderline results, and 11.36% (10 out of 88) lacked immunity to measles. The findings confirmed that individuals without protective antibody levels were most frequently found in the 1976–1981 and 1982–1987 age groups. Individuals who tested negative either had an unknown vaccination status or had received just one vaccine dose, with a similar distribution of negative results between sexes. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing vaccination coverage, especially among individuals with incomplete vaccination histories, to prevent future measles outbreaks.