Immunity to pertussis 5 years after booster immunization during adolescence.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We conducted a 5-year follow-up study on the persistence of pertussis-specific antibody and cell-mediated immunity after booster immunization of adolescents aged 11-13 years with a tricomponent acellular pertussis vaccine (Boostrix; trials diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis [Tdap]-004/030).

METHODS:

Cellular and humoral immunity to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin were measured in adolescents (age, 16 years) 5 years after booster immunization. Similar investigations were performed for control adolescents who had received only diphtheria and tetanus booster vaccination.

RESULTS:

Five years after pertussis booster vaccination, the geometric mean concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) elicited by each of the 3 pertussis vaccine antigens decreased from 1-month and 3-year postvaccination levels, but with the exception of PT IgG, were still higher than the prevaccination levels. PT IgG levels were undetectable in 28% of the subjects, but 44% of those subjects still tested positive for cell-mediated immunity to PT. Filamentous hemagglutinin IgG and pertactin IgG levels were significantly higher in Tdap-boosted adolescents than in the control subjects. Antibody concentrations at 1 month after vaccination strongly predicted antibody persistence. Cell-mediated immunity levels to PT, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin persisted above the prebooster levels measured 5 years earlier.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of the present study of adolescents indicate that the interval between acellular pertussis booster immunizations might be extended beyond 5 years.

• Authors: Kati Edelman, Qiushui He, Johanna Mäkinen, Anna Sahlberg, Marjo Haanperä, Lode Schuerman, Joanne Wolter, Jussi Mertsola
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 44 Issue 10 Pg. 1271-7 (May 15 2007) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17443462 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Boostrix
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antibody Formation (immunology)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular (immunology)
• Immunization, Secondary (methods)
• Male
• Whooping Cough (immunology, prevention & control)