The acquisition of anti‐pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide Haemophilus influenzae type b and tetanus toxoid antibodies, with age, in the UK

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 1993-08, Vol.93 (2), p.157-164
• Main Authors: HAZLEWOOD, M., NUSRAT, R., KUMARARATNE, D. S., GOODALL, M., RAYKUNDALIA, C., WANG, GONG, JOYCE, H. J., MILFORD‐WARD, A., FORTE, M., PAHOR, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis; Bacterial Capsules - immunology; Bacterial Vaccines - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Clostridium tetani; ELISA; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus influenzae - immunology; Haemophilus influenzae type b; Haemophilus Vaccines; Humans; IgG subclasses; Immunoglobulin G - classification; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - immunology; RABA; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology; tetanus toxoid; Tetanus Toxoid - immunology
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb07959.x

SUMMARY Antibody levels specific for capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and to tetanus toxoid (TT). were measured in serum samples of 750 age‐stratified subjects from the UK. The study subjects comprised healthy adult volunteers and hospitalized children undergoing elective surgery, excluding those with a history of infection or under investigation for immunological or haematological disorders. These antibody levels were calibrated by comparison with serum pool obtained from healthy adult volunteers, who were immunized with Hib polyribose‐phosphate vaccine (Merieux). The data are intended to provide reference ranges to assist in the interpretation of specific antibody measurements in the clinical setting. Maternal IgG pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) specific antibody levels, geometric‐mean titre (GMT) 1/22, were lost by 6 months of age (GMT of 1/9). They remained low until 3–5 years (GMT of 1/20), and consisted principally of IgGl. Thereafter, IgG anti‐PCP antibody titres increased steadily to adult levels (GMT of 1/275), of which 80% was IgG2. Anti‐PCP antibody titres of the IgM isotype rose steadily from a GMT 1/21 (0–6 months) to 1/420(3–5 years), a level which was maintained until adulthood. Anti‐Hib antibody concentrations, determined by RABA, again demonstrated the decline in maternal antibody, from 0.18 μg/ml in the 0.6 month age cohort, to 0.09 μg/ml between 6 and 12 months. Geomctric‐mcan antibody concentrations remained below 0.2 μg/ml until 3–5 years, then increased with age, attaining the mean adult level of 1.02 μg/ml. Anti‐TT antibody concentrations were measured in the same sera, by ELISA. Two peaks in anti‐TT antibody levels were seen in children of 0.059 IU/ml and 0.166 IU/ml corresponding to the schedule of routine childhood immunization in the first year and at 5 years of age.