Prevalence of antibody to Chlamydia pneumoniae in residents of Japan, the Solomon Islands, and Nepal.
Sera of 4,050 residents from Japan, 276 from the Solomon Islands, and 602 from Nepal were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the prevalence of antibody to Chlamydia pneumoniae. The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies was significantly higher in the Solomon Islands (64.9% and 82.2%) and Nepal (73.1%, and 69.8%) than in Japan (53.6% and 41.1%). These prevalence rates increased throughout the teenage years in the Solomon Islands and Japan and leveled off with age, whereas in Nepal the prevalence rates gradually increased with age. The prevalence of a high (> 3.0) IgA antibody index, which is suggestive of acute infection, was significantly higher in the Solomon Islands (34.8%) than in Japan (3.2%) and Nepal (10.5%). The prevalence of IgG antibody ranged from 46.4% to 67.7%, and the prevalence of IgA antibody ranged from 33.7% to 61.8% in the four difference areas of Japan. These findings indicate considerable differences in the prevalence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae by age in these nations and between the regions of Japan tested.
Shimizu
Chie
C
Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Nabeshima
Shigeki
S
Kikuchi
Kensuke
K
Furusyo
Norihiro
N
Kashiwagi
Seizaburo
S
Hayashi
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G