Vaccination News Home Page

Vaccinated mothers pass on less measles immunity to their infants

Vaccine 2001 Mar 21;19(17-19):2258-61

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Measles elimination: old and new challenges?

Muller CP.

Department of Immunology, WHO Collaborative Center for Measles, Laboratoire National de Sante, P.O. Box 1102, L-1011, Luxembourg. claude.muller@santel.lu

Life attenuated measles vaccines have dramatically reduced measles morbidity and mortality world-wide. Despite high vaccination coverage, measles outbreaks continue to occur both in developed and developing countries. While secondary vaccine failure may be responsible for disease in some seroconverted individuals, evidence suggests that many more vaccinees who are protected against disease may not be fully protected against virus infection. In low-income developing countries protection by maternal antibodies seems to erode faster than previously estimated especially in infants who were born to vaccinated mothers. Problems of infectivity and susceptibility of vaccinees will be compounded in case wild-type viruses become less sensitive to vaccine induced immunity. These observations suggest that elimination may be more easily achieved as long as large proportions of populations are protected by wild-type virus-induced immunity.

PMID: 11257344 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

Schweiz Med Wochenschr 2000 Oct 14;130(41):1479-86

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


[Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella in Swiss children during the first 16 months of life]

[Article in German]

Desgrandchamps D, Schaad UB, Glaus J, Tusch G, Heininger U.

Abteilung fur Infektiologie und Vakzinologie, Universitats-Kinderspital beider Basel.

OBJECTIVE: To study the question of how long maternal IgG antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella persist in infants. METHODS: Sera of children aged 0-16 months who had been hospitalised in our institution between 1994 and 1999 were identified from our routine serum collection. Exclusion criteria were: preterm delivery; suspected measles, mumps or rubella illness or exanthema of unknown aetiology; transfusion of blood products in the 6 months preceding serum collection; foreign-born mother; previous MMR immunisation. IgG antibodies were measured by use of commercially available ELISA kits. RESULTS: 254 serum specimens were analysed. Age distribution of patients was as follows: 0-3 months n = 58; > 3-6 months n = 48; > 6-9 months n = 52; > 9-12 months n = 42; > 12-16 months n = 54. The following seroprevalence rates for IgG antibodies were found (measles/mumps/rubella): 0-3 months 97%/62%/91%; > 3-6 months 40%/2%/42%; > 6-9 months 4%/2%/10%; > 9-12 months 2%/0%/12%; > 12-16 months 0%/7%/7%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate high levels of passive immunity against measles and rubella in Swiss infants during the first months of life, whereas immunity against mumps appears to be considerably less reliable. Beyond the first 3 months of life, IgG antibodies against all 3 illnesses are lacking in the majority of patients; beyond 12 months of age they are only rarely detectable. These results raise the question whether the first MMR immunisation, currently recommended at the age of 15 months in Switzerland, should be brought forward.

PMID: 11075412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

Pediatr Int 2000 Jun;42(3):233-5

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Recent increase in the frequency of infant measles in Japan.

Ohsaki M, Tsutsumi H, Takeuchi R, Seki K, Chiba S.

Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Because there has been no major outbreak of measles in Japan during the last decade, subclinical boosting of pre-existing immunity by exposure to epidemic measles is unlikely to have occurred. Consequently, the measles immunity of mothers of this generation is less well developed and they provide less effective passive immunity to their infants. An increase in the frequency of infant measles is therefore probable. METHOD AND RESULTS: A retrospective review was undertaken of the clinical records of all measles cases that occurred in the last 3 years in eight hospitals and two out-patient clinics in Hokkaido. Of 541 recorded cases, 96 (17.7%) were infants and of these, 66 patients (68.8%) were over 9 months of age. Only 20 children had received measles vaccination. CONCLUSION: There has been a recent increase in the frequency of infant measles, suggesting an increased population of infants susceptible to measles before the age of 1. Of the older patients, 95% had not been vaccinated against measles. Increasing the rate of measles vaccination may help suppress future measles outbreaks and assist in protecting infants until they pass their first birthday.

PMID: 10881577 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Vaccine 2000 May 8;18(22):2411-5

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Measles vaccine immunogenicity and antibody persistence in 12 vs 15-month old infants.

Johnson CE, Darbari A, Darbari DS, Nalin D, Whitwell J, Chui LW, Cleves MA, Kumar ML.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Denver, USA. johnson.candice@TCHDEN.ORG

HYPOTHESIS: Maternal measles immunity in the United States today is primarily vaccine induced, with corresponding lower antibody titers in infants, as compared to infants born in an earlier era to mothers with naturally acquired measles immunity. We hypothesized that, due to lower titer of passively transferred maternal measles antibody, administration of measles vaccine at 12 months of age would result in seroconversion and antibody persistence comparable to vaccination at 15 months of age. POPULATION: Children at both an urban hospital and a suburban clinic. METHODS: Informed consent was obtained from mothers for the infants to receive M-M-R(R)II vaccine at either 12 or 15 months and to have serum samples obtained before vaccination and 4 weeks post-vaccination (PV). Between 9 and 39 months PV, a third serum sample was obtained from 28% of seroconverters. A diary of adverse experiences was kept for 3 weeks PV. Sera were assayed by a microneutralization assay (NT) and an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measles antibody. RESULTS: Both age groups tolerated vaccination well with minor and transient side effects. Forty-four of 47 (94%) 12-month-old infants seroconverted by NT, compared to 45 of 46 (98%) 15-month-olds (p=NS). There was no statistically significant decline in median NT titers or EIA titers in nineteen 12-month-olds and thirteen 15-month olds followed for 9-39 months PV. CONCLUSION: This study showed comparable serologic responses in 12- vs 15-month-old infants born to measles vaccine-immune mothers; however, the sample size was too small to have adequate power and further study is indicated. Titers of antibody were constant in both the 12-month-old and the 15-month-old infants, over a 9-39 month period, suggesting that waning immunity over this period of time is not a problem in either age group.

PMID: 10738098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Vaccine 1999 Jan;17(2):182-92

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


A comparison of alternate immunization regimes for measles in vaccinated populations.

Pabst HF, Boothe PM, Carson MM.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Infants today lose maternal measles antibody sooner than in the past. This is related to demographic changes in maternal immunization. Data for rates of decay of maternal antibody and seroconversion after measles vaccination for infants born to naturally immune (Group 1) or vaccinated (Group 2) mothers have been used to evaluate two vaccination schedules: Regime 1, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) at 1 year of age and Regime 2, monovalent measles at 6 months followed by MMR at 15 months of age. Regime 2 costs less because MMR can be administered at 15 months with the last pentavalent booster. Months of protection/1000 children aged 0-15 months (child-months of protection) were estimated for infant populations ranging from 0 to 100% Group 1 for Regimes 1 and 2. Regime 1 provides more child-months of protection only for 100% Group 1 populations. For the study population Regime 2 provided at least 17% more child-months of protection than Regime 1. Regime 2 provides increased medical and financial benefits in proportion to the number of Group 2 infants in the population and thus is ever more advantageous for today's increasingly vaccinated populations.

PMID: 9987153 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

: Acta Med Port 1998 Oct;11(10):847-53

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


[Anti-measles igg concentration in maternal blood and in umbilical cord blood: according to the mother's vaccination status]

[Article in Portuguese]

Goncalves G, De Andrade HR, Cutts F.

Instituto Nacional de Saude Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Delegacao no Porto.

A study on passive immunity against measles was conducted in four hospitals of Oporto, Portugal. The objectives were to assess whether maternal measles vaccination status was associated to the levels of measles IgG in maternal and cord sera, and with the transplacental transport efficiency. Cord and venous maternal blood samples were collected from 1539 mother-child pairs enrolled. An enzyme immunoassay was used to measure measles IgG levels in the study sera. Results were expressed in mIU/ml. Vaccination records were consulted. Geometric mean concentration of measles IgG among vaccinated mothers (730 mIU/ml; 95% CI 602 to 884 mIU/ml; n = 79) was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower than among their unvaccinated counterparts (1535 mIU/ml; 95% CI 1460 to 1613 mIU/ml; n = 1317). The same was observed in the corresponding cord sera: those born to vaccinated mothers had significantly (P < 0.0001) lower levels of measles IgG (1083 mIU/ml; 95% CI 908 to 1291) than the newborns of unvaccinated mothers (2230 mIU/ml; 95% CI 2119 to 2347). Transplacental transport efficiency was not related with maternal vaccination status (P = 0.67). Measles IgG levels observed in this Portuguese study were similar to those observed in a study conducted in South Africa, but higher than those reported in a British study. The differences in measles IgG levels between vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers (and corresponding newborns) are consistent with similar findings already published in different countries. The lower levels of measles IgG among children born to vaccinated mothers may lead to the anticipation of the recommended age to vaccinate against measles in Portugal.

PMID: 10021779 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Vaccine 1997 Apr-May;15(6-7):620-3

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Passive immunity against measles during the first 8 months of life of infants born to vaccinated mothers or to mothers who sustained measles.

De Serres G, Joly JR, Fauvel M, Meyer F, Masse B, Boulianne N.

Centre de Sante Publique de Quebec, Beauport, Canada.

Neutralizing antibody titers of 47 infants whose mothers sustained measles (measles group) and 70 whose mothers were vaccinated (vaccine group) were compared at birth, 4 and 8 months of age. All children had antibodies at birth and 88% at 4 months. At 8 months, 49% had antibodies in the measles group and 15% in the vaccine group (P < 0.001). The geometric mean titers were significantly lower in the vaccine group than in the measles group and the difference corresponded to the antibody loss occurring in only 1.5 months of life. This small difference may reflect past exposure to wild virus of many vaccinated mothers.

PMID: 9178461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

Epidemiol Infect 1996 Dec;117(3):519-24

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


A study of maternally derived measles antibody in infants born to naturally infected and vaccinated women.

Brugha R, Ramsay M, Forsey T, Brown D.

Immunisation Division, Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London.

Maternal, cord and infant measles antibody levels were measured and compared in a group of 411 vaccinated mothers and 240 unvaccinated mothers, and their babies, between 1983 and 1991. Maternal and cord sera were tested by haemagglutination inhibition and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and plaque reduction neutralization tests were also used to test infant sera. Geometric mean titres were significantly higher in the unvaccinated than in the vaccinated mothers (P < 0.001). Infants born to mothers with a history of measles had higher antibody levels at birth than infants of vaccinated mothers and, although the difference narrowed over time, continued to have higher levels up to 30 weeks of age. Between 5 and 7 months of age significantly more of the children of vaccinated mothers had plaque reduction neutralization antibody levels below that which would interfere with vaccination. As the boosting effect of circulating natural measles disappears, earlier measles vaccination may need to be considered, perhaps as part of a two-dose policy.

PMID: 8972678 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

Pediatrics 1996 Jan;97(1):53-8

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Changing levels of measles antibody titers in women and children in the United States: impact on response to vaccination. Kaiser Permanente Measles Vaccine Trial Team.

Markowitz LE, Albrecht P, Rhodes P, Demonteverde R, Swint E, Maes EF, Powell C, Patriarca PA.

National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.

OBJECTIVES. In the United States, younger women are more likely to have immunity to measles from vaccination and are less likely to have been exposed to the wild virus than are older women. To evaluate changes in measles antibody titers in women in the United States and children's responses to measles vaccination, we analyzed data from a measles vaccine trial. METHODS. Sera collected from children before vaccination at 6, 9, or 12 months of age and from their mothers were assayed for measles antibodies by plaque reduction neutralization. Responses to vaccination with Merck Sharp & Dohme live measles virus vaccines at 9 months (Attenuvax) and 12 months (M-M-R II) were also analyzed. RESULTS. Among women born in the United States (n = 614), geometric mean titers (GMTs) of measles antibodies decreased with increasing birth year. For those born before 1957, 1957 through 1963, and after 1963, GMTs were 4798, 2665, and 989, respectively. Among women born outside of the United States (n = 394), there were no differences in GMTs by year of birth. Children of younger women born in the United States were less likely than those of older women to be seropositive at 6, 9, or 12 months. The response to the vaccines varied by maternal birth year for children of women born in the United States. Among 9-month-old children, 93% of those whose mothers were born after 1963 responded, compared with 77% and 60% of those whose mothers were born in 1957 through 1963 and before 1957, respectively. Among 12-month-old children, 98% of those born to the youngest mothers responded, compared with 90% and 83% of those whose mothers were born in 1957 through 1963 and before 1957. The responses of children of women born outside of the United States were not associated with maternal year of birth. CONCLUSIONS. An increasing proportion of children in the United States will respond to the measles vaccine at younger ages because of lower levels of passively acquired maternal measles antibodies.

PMID: 8545224 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Pediatrics 1995 Sep;96(3 Pt 1):447-50

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Early loss of passive measles antibody in infants of mothers with vaccine-induced immunity.

Maldonado YA, Lawrence EC, DeHovitz R, Hartzell H, Albrecht P.

Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305, USA.

BACKGROUND. Maternally derived passive measles antibody may interfere with vaccine-induced immunity in infants less than 12 months of age. However, early loss of passive measles antibody may occur in infants of women who received measles vaccine because measles vaccine induces lower antibody titers than does natural infection. METHODS. Persistence of passive neutralizing measles antibody was studied longitudinally in a group of normal infants as a function of maternal measles titer at birth and maternal date of birth. Maternal serum and cord blood specimens were tested from 162 women and their newborns, from 51 of these infants at 9 months of age and from 63 at 12 months of age. RESULTS. Seventy-one percent of sera from 9-month-old infants (36 of 51, 95% confidence interval 68% to 84%) and 95% of samples from 12-month-old infants (60 of 63, 95% confidence interval 89% to 101%) had no detectable neutralizing measles antibody. Measles geometric mean titers were significantly higher at delivery in mothers whose infants were seropositive at 9 and 12 months compared with mothers whose infants were seronegative at 9 and 12 months. All infants with detectable measles antibody at 9 or 12 months had mothers born before 1963, before the vaccine era, and both material and cord blood measles geometric mean titers decreased significantly with decreasing maternal age. CONCLUSIONS. Persistence of passive measles antibody is uncommon by 12 months of age; earlier antibody loss is related to lower maternal age and maternal measles titer.

PMID: 7651776 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

J Med Virol 1995 Feb;45(2):227-9

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Measles antibodies in women and infants in the vaccine era.

Kacica MA, Venezia RA, Miller J, Hughes PA, Lepow ML.

Department of Pediatrics, Albany Medical College, NY 12208, USA.

The present investigation was done to determine whether measles enzyme immune assay (EIA) absorbency values were lower in women born in the vaccine era after 1963 and their infants in an upstate New York metropolitan area, an area of low measles incidence during the past 10 years compared with women born before the measles vaccine era who had natural measles. Aliquots of 202 sera from mother-infant pairs collected for other purposes from November 1990 to June 1991 at Albany Medical Center Hospital were tested by EIA. The demographic data available for analysis were maternal age and infant gestational age. Measles mean absorbency values were analyzed according to maternal age. Of 202 mother-infant pairs, 30% of mothers and 17% of their infants were seronegative (EIA < 0.16). Mothers born before 1963 and their infants had significantly higher mean EIA absorbency values than mothers born after 1963 and their infants (P < 0.002). The percent seropositive for measles antibodies by EIA for mothers born before 1963 and their infants, 87% and 94%, respectively, was significantly higher than the percent seropositive for mothers born after 1963 and their infants, 61% and 69%, respectively (P = 0.0001). Since the mean measles antibodies as measured by EIA absorbency were significantly lower in the mothers born after 1963 and their infants compared with women born before the vaccine era, the strategy for measles control in the future may have to include lowering the age of infant immunization.

PMID: 7775944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

 

Pediatr Infect Dis J 1995 Jan;14(1):17-22

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Measles vaccination of infants in a well-vaccinated population.

Carson MM, Spady DW, Albrecht P, Beeler JA, Thipphawong J, Barreto L, Grimsrud KM, Pabst HF.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

During outbreaks of measles, measles vaccine is recommended for infants considered to be at risk who are 6 months of age and older. In a prospective trial the serologic response to early measles immunization has been evaluated in 125 infants given monovalent measles vaccine at 6 to 8.5 months of age and measles-mumps-rubella at 15 months. The response to vaccination was measured by plaque reduction neutralization (PRN) assay and enzyme immunoassay. Infants were grouped by the mother's immunization history: natural immunity (n = 60, Group 1); killed followed by live, further attenuated vaccine (n = 22, Group 2); and live, further attenuated vaccine only (n = 43, Group 3). The prevaccination geometric mean titer (GMT) by PRN for Group 1 (GMT = 69) was significantly higher than that of Group 2 (GMT = 18) or 3 (GMT = 13). Seroconversion (4-fold increase in PRN titer) rates after monovalent vaccine were 31, 71 and 76% for Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Seroconversion percentages were higher when measured 6 to 8 weeks after vaccination compared with 4 to 5 weeks. After measles-mumps-rubella > or = 97% of all infants had PRN titers > 120 and were measles IgG-positive by enzyme immunoassay. These data show that as demographics shift to a well-vaccinated maternal population and susceptibility in younger infants, measles vaccination before the currently recommended age will be effective.

PMID: 7715983 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.