title: Total and functional antibody response to a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine among children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine total and functional serogroup C antibody response after vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, before and after intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study subjects were between the ages of 0.5 and 19.9 years, and were eligible for a community-wide public health immunization campaign against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total and functional antibody response was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and bactericidal assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month after vaccination, total capsular polysaccharide antibody significantly increased in all age groups; a significant rise in bactericidal antibody, that correlated with total capsular polysaccharide antibody, was seen in children 18 months of age and older. At 1 year bactericidal antibody titers were maintained but capsular polysaccharide antibody declined substantially in children younger than 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total capsular polysaccharide antibody concentration appears to be a useful surrogate measure of bactericidal antibody in children 18 months and older. Children who originally received the vaccine at less than 18 months of age should be considered for revaccination if there is a new or continuing risk of disease. Because of the differences in the total and bactericidal antibodies formed, vaccine efficacy trials are required to define which serologic measures are associated with protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diaz-Mitoma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial