title: [Naturally acquired tetanus antitoxin in the serum of children and adults in Mali].
abstract: Among 48 adults without a history of tetanus immunization, we found with the aid of indirect hemagglutination test 20 individuals with protective tetanus antibody titers, 23 with low levels of antitoxin (under 0,1 I.U./ml) and 5 devoid of tetanus antitoxin. In two blood samples of 99 unvaccinated children under 3 years of age (taken at 7 months intervall) 12,1% showed tetanus antitoxin in the first serum sample and 16,2% in the second sample. Protective antibody titers could be found only in 4 children in each of the first and second serum sample. The data suggest a silent oral immunization by tetanus bacilli thus boosting under unhygienic conditions the tetanus immunity with advancing age.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D008875:Middle Aged; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000032:analysis*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin
vernacular_title: Uber natürlich erworbene Tetanusantitoxine im Serum von Kindern und Erwachsenen in Mali.