Prevalence of antibodies against avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among Cullers and poultry workers in Ho Chi Minh City, 2005.
BACKGROUND
Between 2003 and 2005, highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses caused large scale outbreaks in poultry in the Ho Chi Minh City area in Vietnam. We studied the prevalence of antibodies against H5N1 in poultry workers and cullers who were active in the program in Ho Chi Minh City in 2004 and 2005.


RESULTS
Single sera from 500 poultry workers and poultry cullers exposed to infected birds were tested for antibodies to avian influenza H5N1, using microneutralization assays and hemagglutination inhibition assay with horse blood. All sera tested negative using microneutralization tests. Three samples showed a 1ratio80 titer in the hemagglutination inhibition assay.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides additional support for the low transmissibility of clade 1 H5N1 to humans, but limited transmission to highly exposed persons cannot be excluded given the presence of low antibody titers in some individuals.
Schultsz
Constance
C
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. schultsz@gmail.com
Nguyen
Van Dung
VD
Hai
Le Thanh
le T
Do
Quang Ha
QH
Peiris
J S Malik
JS
Lim
Wilina
W
Garcia
Jean-Michel
JM
Nguyen
Dac Tho
DT
Nguyen
Thi Hoang Lan
TH
Huynh
Huu Tho
HT
Phan
Xuan Thao
XT
van Doorn
H Rogier
HR
Nguyen
Van Vinh Chau
VV
Farrar
Jeremy
J
de Jong
Menno D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011200:Poultry / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014744:Vietnam