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Diphtheria immunity in flanders

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Abstract

A serological survey to determine the immunity to diphtheria in the Flemish population was conducted according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Immunity to diphtheria was determined on a randomised, stratified sample (1679 serum samples) from an existing serum bank (4058 serum samples) representative of the Flemish population. All age groups between 0 and 100 years were included. A tissue (Vero cell) culture toxin neutralisation assay was used to measure serum diph-theria antitoxin concentrations. The results showed that 43% of the Flemish population was protected against diphtheria (antitoxin titre, ≥ 0.1 lU/ml), while 32% was susceptible (antitoxin titre, < 0.01 lU/ml); for 25%, protection was of limited duration (antitoxin titre, ≥ 0.01 lU/ml and < 0.1 lU/ml). The proportion of susceptible subjects showed a significant age-related increase, with the highest values in the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 age groups (57.9% and 55.5%, respectively). These results emphasise the need for booster immunization of adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    C. Matheï, P. Van Damme & A. Meheus

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    P. Bruynseels & H. Goossens

  3. Department of Virology, Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    R. Vranckx

Authors
  1. C. Matheï
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  2. P. Van Damme
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  3. P. Bruynseels
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  4. H. Goossens
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  5. R. Vranckx
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  6. A. Meheus
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Matheï, C., Van Damme, P., Bruynseels, P. et al. Diphtheria immunity in flanders. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 16, 631–636 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01708551

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