Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunity to diphtheria in Izmir, Turkey

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to assess immunity to diphtheria in Izmir, Turkey, a total of 743 persons 1–70 years of age were selected with cluster sampling. The information on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination status and diphtheria history was gathered for each participant. Diphtheria antitoxin levels were measured qualitatively by using micro-enzyme immune assay. Of studied population, 79.1% had fully protective antitoxin levels (≥ 0.1 IU/ml). Diphtheria protection rates showed a gradual age-related decrease, reaching minimum in the 30–44 age group, in which 40.2% of these subjects had antibody titre below the full protective level. The diphtheria antitoxin geometric mean titer was highest in the 5–9 year age group (1.05 IU/ml). Then, geometric mean titer decreased with increasing age, and reached the minimum level in the 30–44 age group (0.19 IU/ml). These results suggest that in Izmir, Turkey, full serological protection against diphtheria is only detectable in 60% of the adult population. The enhancement of diphtheria immunity by booster vaccinations in adolescents and adults should be considered in Turkey.

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. WHO. Diphteria control in the Russian Federation. Report on a WHO meeting in Moscow, Russia, 20 May 1994. EUR/ICP/EPI 038(D).

  2. Galazka AM, Robertson SE. Diphtheria: Changing patterns in the developing world and the industrialised world. Eur J Epidemiol 1995; 11: 107–117.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Galazka A, Robertson SE. Immunization against diphtheria with special emphasis on immunization of adults. Vaccine 1996; 14: 845–857.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hasselhorn HM, Nübling M, Tiller FW, Hofmann F. Factors influencing immunity against diphtheria in adults. Vaccine 1998; 16: 70–75.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wirz M, Puccinelli M, Mele C, Gentili G. Immunity to diphtheria in the 4–70 year age group in Italy. Vaccine 1995; 13: 771–773.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rappuoli R, Podda A, Giovannoni F, Nencioni L, Peragallo M, Francolini P. Absence of protective immunity against diphtheria in a large proportion of young adults. Vaccine 1993; 11: 576–577.

    Google Scholar 

  7. WHO. Diphteria epidemic in Europe: Emergency and response. Report on WHO in St Petersburg, Russia, 5–7 July 1993. EUR/ICP/EPI 038.

  8. Henderson RH, Sundaresan T. Cluster sampling to assess immunization coverage: A review of experience with simplified sampling method. Bull World Health Organ 1982; 60: 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ballereau F, Schrive I, Fisch A, Speich H, Laurichesse H, Tournade S, Rey M. A multicentre serosurvey on diphtheria immunity in a French population of 1004 subjects. Eur J Epidemiol 1998; 14: 499–503.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Thompson SC, Ogilvie E, Veit F, Crofts N. Serostatus for vaccine-preventable diseases in residents at Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre. Aust N Z Public Health 1998; 22: 573–577.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Galazka AM. The immunological basis for immunization; Module 2: Diphtheria. WHO 1993; WHO/EPI/GEN/ 93. 12.

  12. Nahum E, Lerman Y, Cohen D, Salpon R, Danon YL. The immune response to booster vaccination against diphtheria toxin at age 18–21 years. Isr J Med Sci 1994; 30: 600–603.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Maple PA, Efstratiou A, George RC, Andrew NJ, Sesardic D. Diphtheria immunity in UK blood donors. Lancet 1995; 345: 963–965.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Christenson B, Böttiger M. Serological immunity to diphtheria in Sweden in 1978 and 1984. Scand J Infect Dis 1986; 18: 227–233.

    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. Scand J Infect Dis 1988; 20: 177–185.

    Google Scholar 

  17. WHO. Diphtheria immunity in the adult French population. Weekly Epid. Rec. No 70, 1 September 1995, pp. 252–255.

  18. Masterton RG, Tettmar RE, Pile RLC, Jones J, Croft KF. Immunity to diphtheria in young British adults. J Infect 1987; 15: 27–32.

    Google Scholar 

  19. WHO. Immunization of adults against diphtheria. Weekly Epid. Rec. No 70, 24 February 1995, pp. 56–59.

  20. Durbaca S, Serban R, Ulmeanu V. Antidiphtheria and antitetanus immunity in various age groups (0–70 years) in Romania. Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol 1998; 57: 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rieger J, Kuhlmann D. Diphtherieimmunitat der Bevölkerung in Deutschland. Ges. Wes. 1994; 56: 667–671.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Jenum PA, Skogen V, Danilova E, Eskild A, Sjursen H. Immunity to diphtheria in northern Norway and northwestern Russia. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1995; 14: 794–798.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Glazka AM, Kardymowicz B. Immunity against diphtheria in Poland. Epidem Inf 1989; 103: 587–593.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lee HF, Wang MC, Tseng LR, Lu CF, Hsu HM, Horng CB. Immunity to diphtheria in children three-to-six year of age in four countries of Taiwan. Chung Hua Min Kuo Wei Sheng Wu Chi Mien I Hsueh Tsa Chih. 1995; 28: 32–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    A. Egemen, Z. Kurugöl, S. Akşit & P. Keskinoğlu

  2. Department of Microbiology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    T. Özacar & I. Afşar

Authors
  1. A. Egemen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. Kurugöl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Akşit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Özacar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Keskinoğlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. Afşar
    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

Egemen, A., Kurugöl, Z., Akşit, S. et al. Immunity to diphtheria in Izmir, Turkey. Eur J Epidemiol 16, 1039–1042 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010853026812

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010853026812

Search

Navigation