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Prevalence of IgG diphtheria antitoxin in blood donors in Rio de Janeiro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2005

P. V. DAMASCO ,
F. P. PIMENTA ,
A. A. FILARDY ,
S. M. BRITO ,
A. F. B. ANDRADE ,
G. S. LOPES ,
R. HIRATA  and
A. L. MATTOS-GUARALDI
P. V. DAMASCO
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
F. P. PIMENTA
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
A. A. FILARDY
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
S. M. BRITO
Affiliation:
Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
A. F. B. ANDRADE
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
G. S. LOPES
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, RJ, Brasil
R. HIRATA
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
A. L. MATTOS-GUARALDI
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Vila Isabel, RJ, Brasil
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Abstract

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The lack of information on the immunity of adults in Brazil against diphtheria prompted us to analyse sera from 234 blood donors aged 18–61 years (30·3% females and 69·7% males). IgG diphtheria antitoxin levels determined by means of an ELISA, validated by toxin neutralization test in Vero cells, showed that 30·7% (95% CI 25·0–37·1) of the population was fully protected ([ges ]1 IU/ml). The highest percentage of subjects fully protected was in the 31–40 years age group. Most of the subjects with uncertain or no protection (<1 IU/ml) were found in the 18–30 years age group (43·8%, OR 2·18, P=0·01). Antitoxin levels were not influenced by the increase in age. Males were more protected than females (80·5%, OR 0·44, P=0·01). The prevalence of 30% of individuals fully protected against diphtheria in blood donors in Rio de Janeiro supports the fact that immunity to diphtheria among healthy Brazilian adults is inadequate. To avoid diphtheria epidemics in the future the immunity among adults should be raised in the coming years.

Type
Short Report
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 5 , October 2005 , pp. 911 - 914
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press