Objectives: To investigate human enterovirus 71(HEV71) antibody levels among children in China in recent years, to find the epidemic status of hand, foot and mouth diseases (HFMD) in children, and to provide a scientific base for the HFMD prevention and control.
Methods: 371 sera specimens were colleted from 371 children of 1-6 years old in 3 counties of 3 provinces in 2005. All sera proposed to be detected for measles antibodies investigation. HEV71 antibody was detected by using neutralization test, and then the results were analyzed by statistic methods.
Results: 164 sera were positive for HEV71 antibody, the positive rate was 44.2%. The distribution of HEV71-positive rate was associated with age of the children, the positive rate was increasing with the age increasing. Children under 3 years old had lower antibody positive rate. The GMT decreased with the increasing of ages.
Conclusion: HEV71 infections occurred among children in 3 counties of 3 provinces before 2005, and children under 3 years old were main susceptible population due to their low HEV71 antibody level, It is important to take the preventive measures to protect them from HFMD.