title: Detection of serum antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella after primary measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Iran, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is administered in a two-dose protocol where the first dose is scheduled at 12 months of age. This study aims to determine the efficacy of the MMR vaccine by testing IgM and IgG antibody levels 4 - 7 weeks after primary vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single group cohort study was performed on healthy children, 12 - 15 months of age, who were vaccinated at health centers affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, from January to April 2009. Children with negative vaccination and/or clinical history for measles, mumps or rubella were administered the first dose of the MMR live attenuated vaccine. IgG and IgM antibodies were checked by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) in serum samples 4 - 7 weeks after vaccination. A child was considered seropositive if antibody levels were higher than the assay cut-off level set by the ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples from 240 children were checked for antibodies against measles and rubella. Measles serum IgM level was positive in 71.7% of samples and IgG in 75.8%. The rubella serum IgM level was positive in 71.7% of children and IgG in 73.8%. From 190 blood samples that were checked for mumps antibodies, serum IgM was positive in 68.9% and IgG in 95.3%. No significant relationship was found between seropositivity and age or gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgG and IgM antibody levels were below the assay cut-off levels against measles and rubella in approximately one-fourth of the children following primary MMR vaccination. A second dose was necessary to raise the level of protection against measles and rubella.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infections Research Center, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafiei Tabatabaei
authors.forename: Abdoul-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Esteghamati
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shiva
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.forename: Raheleh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radmanesh
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abdinia
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shamshiri
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khairkhah
authors.forename: Hamideh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shekari Ebrahimabad
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karimi
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine