Different seroprevalences of antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and Haemophilus influenzae type b in Sudanese and Swedish children.
Sampling of sera from 202 Sudanese and 124 Swedish children 1-14 years of age was conducted at the end of the 1980s presenting an opportunity to compare the seroprevalence of anti-Neisseria meningitidis (MC) serogroup A antibodies in an area immediately before outbreak of an epidemic (Sudan 1988) with a low endemic area (Sweden). An ELISA antibody assay was developed for detection of antibodies against capsular polysaccharide of MC serogroup A and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Serum antibody against MC serogroup A was found significantly more frequently in Sudanese than in Swedish children. This indicates that factors other than herd immunity, as measured by serum antibodies against MC serogroup A polysaccharide, are important for avoidance of an MC serogroup A epidemic. The seroprevalence of Hib antibodies was, in contrast, significantly higher in Swedish than in Sudanese children, especially for 5-9-year-old children. A possible explanation may be the different systems of day-care of children in the two countries.
Salih
M A
MA
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Fredlund
H
H
Hugosson
S
S
Bodin
L
L
Olcén
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007136:Immunoglobulins