Prevalence of tetanus immunity in the Egyptian population

Issue title: Abstracts of HAH 2002

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Redwan, EL-Rashdy M.^{a; b} | AL-Awady, Mostafa K.^a

Affiliations: [a] Protein Research Department, GEBRI, Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Biotechnology Application, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt | [b] Present address: TSRI, Molecular Biology BCC206, 10550 N.Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla CA 92037, USA. E-mail: redwan@scripps.edu

Abstract: Our aim was to determine the level of tetanus immunity in the general Egyptian population. The surveyed population consisted of 709 healthy subjects from five regions of Egypt, 2 month to 105 years of age. We used an ELISA assay to determine titers of anti-tetanus IgG. According to the widely used criteria, 31.7% was susceptible to tetanus (IgG level < 0.15 IU/ml), 15.7% protection (0.15–1.0 IU/ml), and 52.6% ≥ 1.0 IU/ml). The results revealed that the majority (68.3%) population from 2 months to 50 years had a protective level of IgG against tetanus. The level of susceptibility increases with age until it reaches 90.3% Significantly, more males (23.7%) unprotected against tetanus. Our results suggest that monitoring immunization status and administering the tetanus vaccine as required are essential to insure adequate and long-lasting antibody levels.

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2002-111-211

Journal: Human Antibodies, vol. 11, no. 1-2, pp. 55-59, 2002