Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunity to diphtheria in Northern Norway and Northwestern Russia

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A case of diphtheria, which has not been seen in Norway for 30 years, was reported in 1992 in the northern part of the country bordering Russia. An increasing number of cases of diphtheria has been reported in the former USSR, including the northwestern part of Russia. In order to elucidate the potential of an epidemic spread across the Norwegian-Russian border, a seroepidemiological study was performed. A total of 470 sera, 243 from Finnmark, Norway, and 227 from Arkhangelsk, Russia, were examined for antibodies against diphtheria toxin, using an in vitro toxin neutralisation method. No statistically significant difference in the presence of diphtheria antitoxin between the Norwegian and the Russian populations was found. The presence of neutralising antibodies decreased by age, and this decrease was most pronounced among the Russians. Individuals aged 40 to 70 years, and Norwegian women in particular, seem to have an increased risk for diphtheria as judged by the diphtheria antitoxin levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization: Outbreak of diphtheria, update. Expanded program on immunization. Weekly Epidemiological Record 1993, 68: 134–137.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Centers for Disease Control: Diphtheria epidemic — new independent states of the former Soviet Union, 1990–1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1995, 44: 177–181.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Christenson B, Böttiger M: Serological immunity to diphtheria in Sweden in 1978 and 1984. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1986, 18: 227–233.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Simonsen O, Kjeldsen K, Bentzon MW, Heron I: Susceptibility to diphtheria in populations vaccinated before and after elimination of indigenous diphtheria in Denmark. Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica (C) 1987, 95: 225–231.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cellesi C, Zanchi A, Michelangeli C, Giovannoni F, Sansoni A, Rossolini GM: Immunity to diphtheria in a sample of adult population from central Italy. Vaccine 1989, 7: 417–420.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Weiss BP, Strassburg MA, Feeley JC: Tetanus and diphtheria immunity in an elderly population in Los Angeles county. American Journal of Public Health 1983, 73: 802–804.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Crossley K, Irvine P, Warren JB, Lee BK, Mead K: Tetanus and diphtheria immunity in urban Minnesota adults. Journal of the American Medical Association 1979, 242: 2298–2300.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Koblin BA, Townsend TR: Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in inner-city women of child-bearing age. American Journal of Public Health 1989, 79: 1297–1298.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Linglöf T: Difteri — et hot från øst? Läkartidningen 1994, 91: 363–365.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lystad A: Diphtheria in Finnmark (in Norwegian). MSIS-rapport (Communicable Disease Report, Norway, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo) 1992, 20: 53.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Miyamura K, Nishio S, Iti A, Murata R, Kono R: Micro-cell culture method for determination of diphtheria toxin and antitoxin titers using Vero cells. I: Studies on factors affecting the toxin and antitoxin titration. Journal of Biological Standardization 1974, 2: 189–201.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ipsen J: Circulating antitoxin at the onset of diphtheria in 425 patients. Journal of Immunology 1946, 54: 325–347.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Central Bureau of Statistics: Population projections 1990–2050. National and regional figures. NOS B 983. Oslo, 1991.

  14. Winsnes R, Harboe A, Møgster B, Lønnes T, Grelland R: Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels. Fifth-grade elementary school pupils before and after revaccination (in Norwegian). Tidsskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening 1985, 105: 2202–2206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kjeldsen K, Simonsen O, Heron I: Immunity against diphtheria 25–30 years after primary vaccination in childhood. Lancet 1985, i: 900–902.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kjeldsen K, Simonsen O, Heron I: Immunity against diphtheria and tetanus in the age group 30–70 years. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1988, 20: 177–185.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Public Health, Geitmyrsveien 75, 0462, Oslo, Norway

    P. A. Jenum

  2. Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Geitmyrsveien 75, 0462, Oslo, Norway

    A. Eskild

  3. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway

    V. Skogen & H. Sjursen

  4. Institute for Infectious Diseases of Children, Regional Hospital, Arkhangelsk, Russia

    E. Danilova

Authors
  1. P. A. Jenum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Skogen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Danilova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Eskild
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Sjursen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jenum, P.A., Skogen, V., Danilova, E. et al. Immunity to diphtheria in Northern Norway and Northwestern Russia. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 14, 794–798 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01690995

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01690995

Keywords

Search

Navigation