Prevalence of circulating antibodies against hemagglutinin of influenza viruses in epidemic season 2021/2022 in Poland

• Published in: Acta Biochimica Polonica 2024-02, Vol.71
• Main Authors: Kondratiuk, Katarzyna, Hallmann, Ewelina, Szymański, Karol, Łuniewska, Katarzyna, Poznańska, Anna, Brydak, Lidia B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: GMT; hemagglutinin antibodies; influenza; protection rate; Science archive; serum financial support
• ISSN: 0001-527X; 1734-154X
• DOI: 10.3389/abp.2024.12289

The aim of the study was to determine the level of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies in the serum of patients during the 2021/2022 epidemic season in Poland. A total of 700 sera samples were tested, divided according to the age of the patients into 7 age groups: 0–4 years of age, 5–9 years of age, 10–14 years of age, 15–25 years of age, 26–44 years of age, 45–64 years of age and ≥65 years of age, 100 samples were collected from each age group. Anti-hemagglutinin antibody levels was determined using the haemagglutination inhibition assay (OZHA). The results obtained confirm the presence of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies for the antigens A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09, A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2), B/Washington/02/2019 and B/Phuket/3073/2013 recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for the 2021/2022 epidemic season. The analysis of the results shows differences in the levels of individual anti-hemagglutinin antibodies in the considered age groups. In view of very low percentage of the vaccinated population in Poland, which was 6.90% in the 2021/2022 epidemic season, the results obtained in the study would have to be interpreted as the immune system response in patients after a previous influenza virus infection.