Lab Med Online.  2014 Jul;4(3):146-151. 10.3343/lmo.2014.4.3.146.

Seroprevalences of Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM Antibodies among Children Living in Jeju Island, Korea

• Lee K
• Kim WJ
• Kim DL
• Kim JH
• Chong MS

• KMID: 1706851
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/lmo.2014.4.3.146

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The particle agglutination (PA) assay is a clinical test routinely used to detect MP infection and to determine total MP antibody titers. Using this assay, however, it is difficult to differentiate between IgM and IgG antibodies. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of MP IgM antibodies in children living in Jeju Island.
METHODS
We investigated the seroprevalence of mycoplasma IgM antibodies in 1,693 patients in the age of 0-10 yr who were ordered for mycoplasma IgM antibody testing in Cheju Halla Hospital between April 2011 and March 2013. Results were classified according to age, sex and the month and year during which the samples were obtained.
RESULTS
The overall positive rate for mycoplasma IgM antibody was 24.7% and was higher in females than in males (P=0.012). The positive rate was lowest in infants under 6 months of age, and gradually rose with increasing age until the age of 4 yr. A major increase in positive rates was observed between January-April of 2012 and minor cyclical increases were also observed at 2-4 month intervals during the study period.
CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of mycoplasma IgM antibodies rises gradually with age until the age of 4 yr. A major peak in MP IgM antibody-positive cases was observed in early 2012, with minor cyclical increases at every 2-4 months. These results will be helpful in the interpretation and diagnosis of MP in children living in Jeju Island.

Keyword

Mycoplasma pneumoniae; IgM antibody; Jeju; Seroprevalence

MeSH Terms

Agglutination
Antibodies*
Child*
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M*
Infant
Jeju-do
Korea
Male
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma pneumoniae*
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Seropositive rates (%) for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM antibodies by age and sex.

• 

  Fig. 2 Seropositive rates (%) for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM antibody detection according to month/year of sample acquisition and sex.

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