title: Response to tetanus immunization in onchocerciasis patients.
abstract: Fifty-five people were examined for tetanus antitoxin level two months after immunization with a single 0.5 ml dose of concentrated tetanus toxoid vaccine; only 7.1% of patients infected with onchocerciasis became immunized, whereas 44.5% were immunized in the control group. These results are consistent with previous observations of a reduced level of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in patients heavily infected with parasitic diseases, especially onchocerciasis. This study raises doubts about the efficacy of immunization in young adult age groups and re-emphasizes the need for immunization in infancy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000032:analysis; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid