title: Diphtheria antitoxin levels in the 14-30-year age group in Italy.
abstract: In order to verify diphtheria immunity a seroepidemiological survey was performed in 1996-1997. Serum samples were obtained from 501 subjects 14 years old, recruited at 8 schools in Rome, and from 490 subjects 20-30 years old recruited from 15 Italian regions. Serum diphtheria antitoxin was titrated using the Vero cell assay. The minimum protection level of antitoxin was set at 0.01 IU ml-1. The results show that the younger population have a good immunity to diphtheria while a large proportion of young adults is devoid of protective levels of diphtheria antitoxin. Out of the 501 subjects 14 years old, 495 (98.8%) had a diphtheria antitoxin titre > or = 0.01 IU ml(-1). Only 6 (1.2%) teenagers were susceptible. Out of the 490 subjects 20-30 years old, 109 (22.2%) were susceptible, 381 (77.8%) had a diphtheria antitoxin titre > or = 0.01 IU ml(-1). The data stress for booster immunization at the end of junior high school.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Applied Biology, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mastroeni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vescia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bocchini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagnod
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciapetti
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000276:immunology*; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid