Antibodies against vaccine-preventable diseases in pregnant women and their offspring in the eastern part of Germany.
Maternal and cord blood samples of 290 pregnant women in the eastern part of Germany with a mean age of 28 years (16-41 years) were analyzed for antibodies to vaccine-preventable diseases. Both mothers and infants had detectable levels of antibodies to mumps in 96% and to tetanus in 93% of cases. Detectable levels to poliomyelitis, diphtheria, measles and rubella varied from 55% to 91%. Cord blood samples had a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies to pertussis (61%) and diphtheria (81%) in comparison to maternal samples (pertussis 37%, diphtheria 70%) as well as significantly enhanced antibody concentrations to diphtheria. In conclusion, the prevalence of antibodies to pertussis (61%), diphtheria (81 %), poliomyelitis (55-59%) and measles (85%) is suggested to be insufficient in newborn infants to protect them against these infectious diseases.
Sauerbrei
A
A
Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany.
Groh
A
A
Bischoff
A
A
Prager
J
J
Wutzler
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology; D009107:Mumps / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral