title: Determination of measles hemagglutination inhibiting antibody levels among school children in Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: Immune status of school children aged from 10-23 years against measles virus was determined by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test with a view of assessing herd immunity. Blood samples from 500 schoolchildren were collected by finger-pricking in Ropacco filter papers. Sera were extracted in 1 mL of cold phosphate buffered saline and treated with 25% (w/v) kaolin and 50.0% monkey red blood cell (RBC) to a final concentration of 1:10. The measles hemagglutinating antigen used for the test was prepared from measles vaccine. Results showed that 62 (12.4%) were positive for measles HI antibody at a titer of 1:640, and 78 (15.6%) had a titer <1:10. There was no significant relationship (P > 0.05) between antibody titer and the schools, while a significant relationship (P < 0.05) existed between antibody titer and age. Although the majority of the schoolchildren had the measles antibody in their sera, titers were, however, beneath the threshold of protection in 33.4% of them. The significant association between age of the schoolchildren and HI titers showed that those antibodies were waning according to age. The study has shown a considerable high level of protection against measles among schoolchildren. To prevent future outbreak of measles among these schoolchildren, it will be advocated that a second dose of measles vaccine be administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Opeyemi T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Ogundiji
authors.forename: Iheanyi Omezuruike
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Okonko
authors.forename: Festus D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Adu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009549:Nigeria; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine