BACKGROUND Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection during pregnancy is associated with serious fetal anomalies. The live-attenuated VZV vaccine was approved in 1995, so many vaccinated women are now of childbearing age. The question of long-term immunity to varicella is critical because breakthrough chickenpox can occur after vaccination. OBJECTIVE To compare humoral and T cell immunity between women of childbearing age who were immunized by vaccination or chickenpox disease. STUDY DESIGN Non-pregnant females between 18 and 36 years old with a history of VZV immunization (n = 20) or prior chickenpox disease (n = 20) were recruited. IgG antibody titers and T cell responses were measured by flow cytometry-based methods in serum and peripheral blood, respectively. RESULTS There were no significant differences in median antibody titers between vaccinated and chickenpox groups (p = 0.34). The chickenpox group had significantly higher levels of VZV antigen-specific CD4 T cells (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION Natural infection induced higher VZV-specific T cell immune responses than vaccination.

中文翻译：

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接受水痘疫苗与自然感染相比，妇女的长期T细胞免疫力不同，但抗体水平相似。

背景技术怀孕期间的水痘带状疱疹病毒（VZV）感染与严重的胎儿异常有关。减毒的VZV减毒活疫苗于1995年获得批准，因此许多接种疫苗的妇女现在已达到育龄。对水痘长期免疫的问题至关重要，因为疫苗接种后可能会出现水痘突破。目的比较接种疫苗或水痘疾病的育龄妇女之间的体液和T细胞免疫力。研究设计招募具有VZV免疫史（n = 20）或先前水痘病（n = 20）的18至36岁之间的未怀孕女性。通过基于流式细胞仪的方法分别在血清和外周血中测量IgG抗体滴度和T细胞反应。结果接种组和水痘组之间的中位抗体滴度没有显着差异（p = 0.34）。水痘组的VZV抗原特异性CD4 T细胞水平明显更高（p = 0.004）。结论自然感染比疫苗接种诱导更高的VZV特异性T细胞免疫反应。