Seroepidemiology of diphtheria and pertussis in Luxembourg in 2000.
A large serosurvey was carried out in Luxembourg in 2000-2001, to determine the population immunity against a number of vaccine-preventable infections including diphtheria and pertussis. Immunity to diphtheria and pertussis was assessed using an in-house neutralization assay and a commercial ELISA test respectively. Mean pertussis antibody activity decreased from 4 to 8 years of age, reflecting the effects of waning of vaccine-induced immunity. Mean pertussis antibody activity increased during adolescence due to infection in previously vaccinated individuals and levelled out after approximately 20 years of age. For adults>25 years age, a statistically significant 30% difference in mean antibody activity between men and women was observed. The proportion of seronegatives for diphtheria among children and adolescents aged<20 years was 2.5% reflecting the high vaccination coverage. The proportion seronegative for diphtheria tended to increase with age such that 42% of individuals aged>40 years were seronegative. Our study supports the recently introduced acellular pertussis vaccine booster at 6 years to reduce pertussis transmission in school-aged children and adolescents.
Mossong
J
J
Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg. joel.mossong@lns.etat.lu
Putz
L
L
Shkedy
Z
Z
Schneider
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008189:Luxembourg / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial