Infect Chemother.  2016 Mar;48(1):12-19. 10.3947/ic.2016.48.1.12.

A Survey of Serum Bactericidal Antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis Serogroups A, C, W and Y in Adolescents and Adults in the Republic of Korea

• Kang JH
• Miao Y
• Lee S
• Kim JH
• Lee KY
• Ma SH
• Jo DS
• Song H
• Haag M

• KMID: 2170512
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2016.48.1.12

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to assess the prevalence of serum bactericidal antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W and Y in adolescents and adults in the Republic of Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In total, 987 subjects aged 11-55 years from five geographical regions of Korea were included in the study. Human serum bactericidal assay (hSBA) was used to measure hSBA titres for serogroups A, C, W and Y. Percentages of subjects with hSBA titres ≥4 and ≥8, geometric mean titres (GMTs), and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were estimated. Analysis was performed for the entire study population and stratified by age group or region. No statistical hypotheses were tested.
RESULTS
The highest percentage of subjects with hSBA titres ≥8 was observed for serogroup W (74%), was similar for serogroups C (34%) and Y (36%), and was lowest for serogroup A (9%). The percentages of subjects with hSBA titres ≥4 were similar to those with hSBA titres ≥8 for all serogroups. GMTs were 2.56 µg/mL (serogroup A), 5.14 µg/mL (serogroup C), 22.63 µg/mL (serogroup W) and 5.28 µg/mL (serogroup Y). Similar trends in GMTs across serogroups were seen for individual regions and age groups. The highest GMTs for serogroups A, W and Y were recorded in the >19-29 years group, and for serogroup C in the >49-55 years group. Across all regions, GMTs were very similar for serogroups A, C and Y, while more variation was seen for serogroup W.
CONCLUSION
In the Korean population, among Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W and Y, serum bactericidal antibodies were most prevalent against serogroup W and least prevalent against serogroup A. These trends were maintained across age groups and regions. The highest GMTs for serogroups A, W and Y were observed in the >19-29 years group. The reasons behind the observed differences in prevalence of bactericidal antibodies against the serogroups are currently not understood, although carriage and cross-reactivity of the assay may be important influences.

Keyword

Serosurveillance; Neisseria meningitidis; Republic of Korea; Adults; Adolescents; Epidemiology; hSBA; Serogroups

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Adult*
Antibodies*
Epidemiologic Studies
Epidemiology
Humans
Korea
Neisseria meningitidis*
Neisseria*
Prevalence
Republic of Korea*
Antibodies

Figure

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  Figure 1 Percentage of subjects 11 to 55 years of age with human serum bactericidal assay (hSBA) titres ≥4, ≥8 and hSBA geometric mean titres (GMTs) for each of the serogroups, stratified by (A) age group and (B) region of Korea.

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