title: Seroprotection against diphtheria and tetanus among Russian and Norwegian teenagers.
abstract: Russian children between 7 and 10 years of age have been shown to have significantly higher seroprotection against diphtheria compared to Norwegian children. That was due to a reinforcing dose given on entering school to Russian but not to Norwegian children. The next booster was given at the age of 11-12 years in both countries. We have compared diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels among 13- to 14- and 15- to 16-year-old teenagers to see if the difference was maintained among the older age group. Serum samples obtained from 106 Russian and 117 Norwegian teenagers were tested by enzyme immunoassay. The Russian and Norwegian adolescents exhibited adequate rates of protection against diphtheria with similar geometric mean antitoxin concentrations of 1.26 and 1.15 IU/ml, respectively, at 13-14 years, and 0.33 and 0.29 IU/ml at 15-16 years. Differences within the age groups were not significant. However, at 13-14 years the Norwegians were much better protected 2 years after a reinforcing dose of tetanus toxoid than the Russians who had not been boosted for 7 years. At the age of 15-16 the difference diminished and became statistically not significant.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Danilova
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiryayev
authors.forename: Einar Klaeboe
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kristoffersen
authors.forename: Haakon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjursen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000097:blood; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013742:Tetanus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin