title: Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus among blood donors in Arak, central province of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tetanus and diphtheria are vaccine-preventable, infectious diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. Immunization by the diphtheria and tetanus toxoid (DT) has been applied in Iran for almost 50 years. However, there are very few data about the rate of immunity to these diseases in the adult population. the humoral immunity to tetanus and diphtheria among blood donors in Arak city, central provice of Iran were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 530 consecutive blood donor samples were collected from Blood Transfusion Organization, Central province of Iran. All samples were tested for diphteria and tetanus IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 530 cases, 91.9% were male and 8.1% were female. 99.6% of cases had protective levels of diphtheria antibody. Protective levels of tetanus antibody were found in 96% of subjects. There was not any significant difference between diphtheria and tetanus antibodies levels and age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained data showed that high proportion of the adult population in Arak have sufficient protection against diphtheria and tetanus. The high protective level of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in Iran can be due to widespread use of booster vaccines in Iranian high schools and during the military services or for pregnant women in their 3(rd) trimester.
authors: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Eslamifar
authors: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Amitis
authors: A
authors: Ramezani
authors: Iranian Society for Support Patients with Infectious Diseases, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Banifazl
authors: TPIRC (Tuberculosis and Pediatric Infectious Research Center), Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors: Masoomeh
authors: M
authors: Sofian
authors: Blood Transfusion Organization Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh-Alsadat
authors: FA
authors: Mahdaviani
authors: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Yaghmaie
authors: Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Arezoo
authors: A
authors: Aghakhani
keywords: Antibody Level; Blood Donor; Diphtheria; Tetanus