title: Immunoglobulin M antibody response to measles virus following primary and secondary vaccination and natural virus infection.
abstract: The use of IgM antibody detection for the classification of the primary and secondary measles antibody response in persons following primary and secondary vaccination and natural measles virus infection was examined. Of 32 nonimmune children receiving primary measles vaccination, 31 (97%) developed IgM antibodies, consistent with a primary antibody response. Of 21 previously vaccinated children with low levels of preexisting IgG antibodies who responded to revaccination, none developed detectable IgM antibodies, whereas 33 of 35 (94%) with no detectable preexisting IgG antibodies developed an IgM response. Of a sample of 57 measles cases with a prior history of vaccination, 55 (96%) had detectable IgM antibodies. Of these, 30 (55%) were classified as having a primary antibody response and 25 (45%) a secondary antibody response based on differences in their ratios of IgM to IgG antibodies. Differences in the severity of clinical symptoms between these 2 groups were consistent with this classification scheme. These findings suggest that 1) an IgM response follows primary measles vaccination in the immunologically naive, 2) an IgM response is absent on revaccination of those previously immunized, and 3) an IgM response may follow clinical measles virus infection independent of prior immunization status.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Enterovirus Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bellini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine