title: Diphtheria immunity status in Egypt.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine immune status to corynebacterium diphtheria by screening for protective antibodies in a sample of Egyptian population. The study population consisted of 709 healthy subjects aged from 2 months to 105 years, inhabitants of 6 regions of Egypt. The study utilized Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure serum levels IgG antibodies reactive with diphtheria toxoid. Levels of diphtheria toxoid antibody > or = 0.1 IU/ ml were defined as immune/protected, 23.9 % of the population were found to be susceptible to diphtheria (IgG level < 0.01 IU/ml), 43% had basic protection (0.01-0.09 IU/ml), and 33.1% were fully protected (0.1 IU/ml). The results revealed that serum levels of antitoxin antibodies decreased in old ages (< 60 y) with the females being more susceptible then males. These results recommend a booster immunization for the susceptible age groups.
authors.affiliation: Protein Research Department, GEBRI, Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Biotechnological Application, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: El-Rashdy M
authors.initials: el-RM
authors.lastname: Redwan
authors.forename: Mostafa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: El-Awady
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G