title: Diphtheria-neutralizing antibody levels in healthy adults from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: In Brazil, until 2004, the immunization policy against diphtheria involved childhood vaccination with no official routine booster dose administered after 15 years of age. This study assessed functional antibody levels against diphtheria among blood donors. A total of 140 blood samples were collected, and diphtheria antitoxin levels were evaluated by Vero cell neutralization test. The mean age of the population was 34 years old (range: 18-61 years); 37.8% females and 62.2% males. Overall, 30.7% (95%, CI: 23.4-38.7) individuals presented neutralizing antitoxin antibody titers < 0.01 IU/ml; 42.1% (95%, CI: 34.1-50.4) showed values between 0.01-0.09 IU/ml and, 27.1% (95%, CI: 20.2-34.9) had (3) 0.1 IU/ml. In the subgroup of individuals with history of diphtheria immunization during childhood (85%), a number of 28.5% showed unprotective levels of circulating neutralizing antibody (< 0.01 IU/ml). Despite the continuous progress of immunization programs directed to Brazilian population, currently healthy adults remain susceptible to diphtheria.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabricia Pires
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Paulo Vieira
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Damasco
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerbino Neto
authors.forename: Guilherme Santoro
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Lucimar Gonçalves
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Milagres
authors.forename: Ana Luíza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mattos-Guaraldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000276:immunology*; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid