Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus serosurvey in Saudi children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate immune protection against vaccine-preventable diseases targeted by the Expanded Program of Immunization in Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
The study was carried out from September 2001 to February 2002. Using multistage sampling techniques, samples were collected from 5 regions of Saudi Arabia and sent for laboratory assay from the following age groups; 50 samples at 12 months, 50 at 6 years, and 100 at 17 years. Sera were assayed for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Sero neutralization was used for anti-diphtheria antibody assay, while enzyme linked immunoassay was used for anti-tetanus, anti-filament hemoagglutination (anti-FHA), and anti-pertussis titer (anti-PT) antibody assay.


RESULTS
This survey showed that 100% of children had protection levels (>/=0.01 IU/ml) against diphtheria at one year, 100% at 6 years, and 93.7% at 17 years. For tetanus, 95.9% had protection levels (>/=0.1 IU/ml) at one year, 100% at 6 years, and 98.9% at 17 years. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-FHA is 22 at one year, 29 at 6 years, and 24 IU/ml at 17 years, while the GMT of anti-PT is 36 at one year, 18 at 6 years, and 11 IU/ml at 17 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Children at one, 6, and 17 years are well protected against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.
Department of Curative Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 11176, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. yalmazrou@hotmail.com
Yagob Y
YY
Al-Mazrou
Mohamed K
MK
Khalil
Sirag A
SA
Elgizouli
Mohamed H
MH
Al-Jeffri
Mohamed M
MM
Bakhsh
Ameen A
AA
Mishkais
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial