Age-specific seroprevalence of serogroup C meningococcal serum bactericidal antibody activity and serogroup A, C, W135 and Y-specific IgG concentrations in the Turkish population during 2005.
Like many other developing countries; there is no accurate information about the antibody levels against Neisseria meningitidis in Turkey. We collected serum samples from four health centers located in different geographic regions and stratified according to age in order to obtain a baseline seroprevalence of protective antibodies to meningococcal serogroup C and provide data on seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to serogroups A, C, W135 and Y. Sera were tested for serum bactericidal antibodies (SBA) to serogroup C meningococci using rabbit serum as the complement source and by a bead based assay for serogroup A, C, W135 and Y-specific IgG. It was observed that 30% and 12% of individuals within the study population had SBA titers of > or =8 and > or =128, respectively. Overall; at least 70% of the population are susceptible (SBA titer <8) to meningococcal serogroup C disease. The rate of susceptibility was highest in infants aged 7-12 months and young children (1-4 years). Regardless of age, for serogroup A, C, W135 and Y, 60.5%, 27.2%, 12.3% and 19.2% of subjects, respectively, had serogroup-specific IgG concentrations > or =2 microg/mL. These data highlight that a large proportion of the Turkish population are susceptible to serogroups C, W135 and Y and should be considered, along with serogroup-specific disease incidence data, in future decisions on possible meningococcal vaccination programmes.
Ceyhan
Mehmet
M
Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. mceyhan@hacettepe.edu.tr
Yildirim
Inci
I
Balmer
Paul
P
Riley
Christine
C
Laher
Gouri
G
Andrews
Nick
N
Borrow
Ray
R
Kurt
Nese
N
Turgut
Mehmet
M
Aydogan
Aysel
A
Ecevit
Cigdem
C
Uysal
Gulnar
G
Schultze
Viola
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008875:Middle Aged; D038381:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A / Q000276:immunology*; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000276:immunology*; D038582:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / Q000276:immunology*; D038581:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup Y / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G