Open AccessSero epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis immune responses in a healthy population in northern Greece
Author(s) -
Polyzou A.,
Pournaras S.,
Dafni U.,
Sofianou D.,
Christeli E.,
Patrinos S.,
Tsakris A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.20025
Subject(s) - filamentous haemagglutinin adhesin , epidemiology , medicine , population , booster dose , antibody , post hoc , pertussis toxin , vaccination , pediatrics , immunology , demography , immunization , environmental health , receptor , g protein , sociology
A seroepidemiological study was conducted on a representative sample of the northern Greek population (healthy individuals, age range=1 day to 80 years) to assess the prevalence of antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Antibody concentrations were significantly elevated with age (analysis of variance (ANOVA), P <0.001). In addition, a significant increase in antibody levels was detected in subjects >50 years old compared to children aged 5–10 years (post‐hoc Scheffe analysis, P =0.007). These data suggest that pertussis occurs frequently in Greek adults, and that sometimes a fifth booster vaccine dose is not given after the second year of life. Routine revaccination with the acellular vaccine for children >4 years of age, adolescents, and adults should be considered in order to ensure effective protection of the whole population. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:211–214, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.