Long-term persistence of mumps antibody after receipt of 2 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations and antibody response after a third MMR vaccination among a university population.
BACKGROUND
High attack rates among vaccinated young adults reported during the 2006 mumps outbreak in the United States heightened concerns regarding mumps vaccine failure.


METHODS
Serum specimens from university students and staff were tested for mumps immunoglobulin (Ig) G by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A subset of participants vaccinated for < or =5 years and > or =15 years were tested by neutralizing antibody (NA) assay. Persons seronegative by EIA were offered a third dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR3), and serum specimens were obtained 7-10 days and 2-3 months after its administration.


RESULTS
Overall, 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91%-96%) of the 440 participants were seropositive. No differences existed in seropositivity rates by sex, age, age at receipt of the second dose of MMR vaccine (MMR2), or time since receipt of MMR2 (P = .568). The geometric mean titer (GMT) of NA among persons vaccinated with MMR2 during the previous 1-5 years was 97 (95% CI, 64-148), whereas, among those vaccinated > or =15 years before blood collection, the GMT was 58 (95% CI, 44-76) (P = .065). After MMR3, 82% (14/17) and 91% (10/11) seroconverted in 7-10 days and 2-3 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower levels of NA observed among persons who received MMR2 > or =15 years ago demonstrates antibody decay over time. MMR3 vaccination of most seronegative persons marked the capacity to mount an anamnestic response.
Date
Anand A
AA
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. adate@cdc.gov
Kyaw
Moe H
MH
Rue
Alison M
AM
Klahn
Julie
J
Obrecht
Leann
L
Krohn
Terry
T
Rowland
Josh
J
Rubin
Steve
S
Safranek
Thomas J
TJ
Bellini
William J
WJ
Dayan
Gustavo H
GH
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine