title: Serum levels of measles IgG antibody activity in children under 5 years in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: Measles IgG antibody levels were estimated in sera from 685 Tanzanian children, 374 (54.6%) boys and 311 (45.4%) girls aged 18 months to 5 years, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The children were screened for HIV-1 and 2 antibodies using ELISA, and reactive sera were confirmed by Western blot. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry. Overall measles vaccination coverage was 98.8%. Measles antibody activity was not detected in 41 (6.0%) children, and ten (1.5%) had antibody levels below 200 mIU/ml, the cut-off level considered to be protective. The non-reactive samples were from one unvaccinated child, one child with unknown vaccination status and 39 vaccinated children. Measles IgG antibody levels were higher in girls (3452.1 mIU/ml) than in boys (2928.2 mIU/ml) (p = 0.02). Higher mean levels were found in children with a history of low birthweight (< 2.5 kg) (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in measles antibody levels with regard to variations in nutritional status. No correlation (r2 = 0.002) was found between antibody levels and time elapsed since vaccination. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, children who were HIV-seropositive (n = 9) were more likely to have non-protective antibody levels < 200 mIU/ml (OR = 5.85; 95% CI: 1.37-24.93).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Muhimbili University, College of Health Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. hdmim@muchs.ac.tz
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Lyamuya
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Matee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aaby
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scheutz
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008458:Measles Vaccine