Open AccessThe Seroepidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae Type B Prior to Introduction of an Immunization Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal
Author(s) -
Andrew S J Marshall,
Charlotte I. S. Barker,
Anoop S. Pulickal,
Elizabeth Kibwana,
Samir C. Gautam,
Elizabeth Clutterbuck,
Stephen Thorson,
Shrijana Shrestha,
Neelam Adhikari,
Andrew J. Pollard,
Dominic F. Kelly
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0085055
Subject(s) - hib vaccine , haemophilus influenzae , medicine , immunization , cord blood , pediatrics , pasteurellaceae , haemophilus , immunology , disease , transmission (telecommunications) , antibody , virology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , conjugate vaccine , antibiotics , bacteria , genetics , electrical engineering , engineering
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is now recognized as an important pathogen in Asia. To evaluate disease susceptibility, and as a marker of Hib transmission before routine immunization was introduced in Kathmandu, 71 participants aged 7 months–77 years were recruited and 15 cord blood samples were collected for analysis of anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only 20% of children under 5 years old had levels considered protective (>0.15 µg/ml), rising to 83% of 15–54 year-olds. Prior to introduction of Hib vaccine in Kathmandu, the majority of young children were susceptible to disease.