Humoral immunity indices of chronic alcoholism patients

Sera obtained from 642 patients with chronic alcoholism and 400 sera from healthy donors, collected in different regions of the USSR (Moscow, the Kirghiz SSR, Transcarpathian Province, the northern Caucasus), were studied. Out of all patients with chronic alcoholism whose blood sera were examined, persons aged 20-30 years constituted 22%, 31-40 years, 41.8%, 41-50 years, 27.5%, above 50 years, 8.7%. The results of the study of the immune structure of these patients with respect to the causative agents of respiratory diseases revealed a large proportion of persons seropositive to influenza virus B Leningrad/369/75 (92-93%) and coronavirus OC-43 (78-93%). Patients with chronic alcoholism were shown to belong to a high risk group with respect to Legionella pneumophila infection. The proportion of persons with antibodies to L. pneumophila among such patients (up to 21.1%) was considerably higher than among healthy donors (not more than 6%). In different regions of the USSR large risk groups with respect to diphtheria (42-56%) and tetanus (12-45%) were detected among patients with chronic alcoholism. These patients also showed considerably higher levels of anti-tissue antibodies in comparison with the healthy population.     

Seroepidemiological characterization of virus hepatitis in the Republic of Armenia

The survey of the population immunological structure with respect to parenteral hepatitis showed awide circulation of hepatitis B (HB) and hepatitis C (HC) viruses among the adult population of Armenia. During the 5 year period of observation the number of persons having antibodies to HC virus increased 2.7-fold. High occurrence of antibodies to HBsAg of HB virus among the healthy population in 2002 (12.0%) in comparison with 1997 (5.4%) reflected a decreased infection rate with HB virus as well. Antibodies to hepatitis A (HA) virus were isolated, on the average, in 64 % of persons. Simultaneously with a decrease in the proportion of HA cases an increased number of HC patients was registered. No circulation of hepatitis E virus was detected. A high percentage of hepatitis cases of mixed etiology was established, as well as an increased number of combined parenteral hepatitis cases was registered (57.1%).     

The prevalence of helicobacteriosis in regions of Siberia based on serological study data

687 adults in 5 regions of Siberia and 79 children and young persons in Novosibirsk were examined. IgG antibodies to H. pylori in their blood sera were determined with the use the enzyme immunoassay. The detection rate of antibodies among the adult population varied within 70-87%, depending on the region, being somewhat lower among the population north of latitude 60 degrees (75%) in comparison with the population residing south of this latitude (86%, p < 0.001). In Novosibirsk the number of seropositive persons was found to be unrelated to sex, age and clinical manifestations of digestive tract diseases. A high detection rate of antibodies to H. pylori was registered in persons aged 25-34 years with a minor increase in older age groups. In children the detection rate increased with age: 29% in children of 5-10 years old and 56% in children 11-14 years old. By the age of 15 more than a half of the children had antibodies.     

Study of the incomplete antibodies in a population of different age groups in foci of bovine brucellosis in Kashka-Darya Province]

Antiglobulin Coombs' test was included into the complex of sero-allergic reactions used for selection of the groups of population to be vaccinated by epidemiological indications, for the purpose of studying the incomplete antibodies in age aspect under conditions of the existing foci of brucellosis infection. A total of 1904 persons were examined. Incomplete antibodies were found with equal frequency in the blood serum of children and in adults of the population of the Kashka-Dariya region of Uzbek SSR residing in the foci of cattle brucellosis; it was revealed in 40.3% of children aged from 7 to 10 to 10 years, in 45.6% of children aged from 11 to 14 years, and in 42.3% of adults aged from 31 to 40 years.     

The detection of viral hepatitis markers in HIV-infected patients

The determination of markers of virus hepatitides B, C and D in 63 registered HIV-infected persons was made. The use of Russian and foreign EIA systems permitted the detection of markers of virus hepatitides 30.1% of HIV-infected persons, including 26.3% of children. Markers of hepatitis B virus were found to occur in children and adults with the same frequency. Out of 65 persons registered in the Center, 3 persons (4.6%) were drug addicts; of these, 2 were found to have antibodies to antigens of hepatitis viruses. Such persons constituted 3.8% of the total number of HIV-infected persons. Among 8 newly detected and registered HIV-infected adults, 2 were found to have antibodies to hepatitis B virus (of these, 1 used drugs intravenously).     

Characteristics of the distribution of the markers of hepatitis B vir us infection among the healthy population of the Tadzhik SSR and Azerbaijan SSR

A total of 708 healthy persons in Tajikistan and 576 healthy persons in Azerbaijan, these groups comprising persons of both sexes and different age groups, were examined by the method of double gel immunodiffusion (the gel precipitation test) and by the passive hemagglutination test for the presence of the markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (HBsAg and HBeAg) and antibodies to them. This investigation showed that, in accordance with the level of hepatitis B morbidity, HBsAg was significantly more often detected among the population in Tajikistan (7.2%) than in Azerbaijan (2.8%). In both republics HBV carriers occurred most frequently among children aged 1-4 years (4.0% in Azerbaijan and 13.9% in Tajikistan), and among men more frequently than among women. In accordance with different intensity of the spread of HBV infection in the territories under comparison, differences in the age structure of the immune population were noted: in Tajikistan the formation of the immune layer occurred most frequently among younger age groups and in Azerbaijan, among senior adult age groups. The presence of a considerable percentage of persons with HBe-antigenemia (14.3-14.9% as determined by the gel precipitation test) among HBV carriers, observed in Tajikistan and in Azerbaijan, indicates that some of them have undetected chronic hepatitis B.     

Data on the study of the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in Leningrad

The results obtained in the study of rotavirus infection in Leningrad in 1984-1987 are presented. Enzyme immunoassay techniques were used for the examination of 4,715 children aged 0-14 years and 1,162 adults with diagnosed acute enteral infection of unknown etiology, as well as the control group of 556 of healthy children aged 0-6 years and 77 healthy adults. The rotavirus antigen was detected in 1.210 sick children (25.7%) and 133 sick adults (11.4%), as well as in 6 healthy children (1.1%), but not detected in healthy adults. The following epidemiological regularities of rotavirus infection were established: the highest sick rate among children aged 0-2 years and a low level of rotavirus carriership among healthy persons; the seasonal character of rotavirus infection, its outbreaks occurring in winter and the epidemic periods varying in their character and duration in different years; the prevailing role of rotaviruses in the development of winter rises of acute enteral infection of unknown etiology in the city among children aged 0-2 years. The problem of the respiratory syndrome in rotavirus diarrhea is discussed. The rotavirus antigen was detected in 39 out of 144 children (27%) with diagnosed acute respiratory virus diseases and in 4 out of 99 nasopharyngeal washings (4%) from diarrhea patients. Adenoviruses were shown to play an insignificant role in the etiology of diarrhea (10% of cases).     

Prevalence of antibodies in response to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Legionella</Emphasis> species,analysis of a healthy population from Jeollanam-do Province,Korea

Seroepidemological investigation of antibodies to Legionella species in 500 healthy individuals from a single geographical location in Korea was conducted by indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Considering an antibody titer of > or =1:128 as positive reaction, 15.2% of total sera were positive. In males and females older than 40 years old, levels of IgM and IgG were 1.2% and 14%, respectively. The sera with antibody titers of > or =1:128 to Legionella species accounted for 85 sera, and 9 sera of these were reacted to more than one Legionella species. Reactivity to L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. longbeachae, L. pneumophila sg 6, and L. gormanii were 32.9%, 20%, 15%, 10.6%, and 8%, respectively. However, L. pneumophila sg 1, sg 2, and sg 3 did not react to any sera. Serological analysis revealed that the level of antibody in response to L. bozemanii was more prevalent than L. pneumophila. Our results suggest that the antibodies of non-L. pneumophila species, such as L. bozemanii, may be highly prevalent in healthy population within Korea. Although conclusions based on the findings of this study must be cautiously considered given that the population sampled were sourced from a single province, we have added to the knowledge base of serodiagnosis of infections due to non-L. pneumophila species in Korea.     

Viral hepatitis in different population groups of Republic of Sakha (Iakutia)

A survey for the presence of markers of viral hepatitis B, delta, C and E among different groups of the population of the arctic and agricultural zones of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), as well as in Yakutsk, was carried out. The survey revealed that viral hepatitides with the parenteral mechanism of the transmission of infective agents were widely spread among the population. In the arctic zone HBsAg was detected in persons aged 20 years and older in 10.8-17.1% of cases. On the average, in the arctic zone antibodies to virus delta were detected in 2.4% of cases. In different regions of the agricultural zone the detection rate of HBsAg was also high (10.4-23.8%). In the Namsk and Vilyui regions delta infection was registered among adolescents (15-19 years of age) in 8.7 and 22.4% of cases respectively. In the Mountainous region anti-delta antibodies were detected among persons aged 20 years and older in 31% of cases. The survey showed the presence of considerable differences in the detection rate of the markers of hepatitis B, depending on the ethnic origin of the examined patients. Similar tendencies were found to exist with respect to delta infection.     

Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in some of the administrative territories of the RSFSR

The article deals with the state of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus among the adult population in some administrative regions of the RSFSR. Of the children and adults covered by the survey, 91.3-96.7% were found to have protective antibody titers against diphtheria and 98.7-100%, against tetanus. An essential drop in the level of immunity to diphtheria in persons over 18 years of age was revealed: 71.7% of them were nonimmune, which correlated with the high morbidity rate among these persons. At the same time the percentage of adults nonimmune to tetanus was considerably lower than that of adults nonimmune to diphtheria, reaching only 27.1%. The state of immunity to tetanus in adults was found to depend on the seasons.     

Detection of Legionella pneumophila antibodies in the blood serum of pneumonia patients by an immunoenzyme method

The conditions of making the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of antibodies to L. pneumophila have been optimized. The use of L. pneumophila purified serotypic antigen at a concentration of 0.25 micrograms/ml for the sensitization of polystyrene plates has been shown to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. 220 patients with severe pneumonia have been examined. As revealed in this investigation, antibodies to L. pneumophila can be detected in 12.2% of cases. A high degree of correlation (94.4%) between the results of EIA and the indirect immunofluorescence test has been shown.     

Humoral immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in pregnant women and newborn infants

Pregnant and parturient women have been examined in different regions of the USSR: Moscow, the Turkmen SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the Uzbek SSR. Altogether 720 placental sera and 522 funic sera have been checked for the presence of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in the passive hemagglutination test. Considerable groups of women with the insufficient level of immunity to diphtheria (40-66%) and tetanus (42.1-58.8%) have been revealed in different republics. Among women over 70 years the percentage of persons with the absence of antibodies or having low antibody titers has proved to be even higher. The comparative analysis of antibody titers has shown a correlation between antibody titers in mothers and newborn infants in 83.6% of cases for diphtheria toxoid and in 72.9% of cases for tetanus toxoid. These data show that among parturient women and newborn infants large groups remain unprotected against diphtheria and tetanus, which indicates the necessity of correcting the immune status of women of the productive age.     

Antidiphtheria and antitetanus antitoxic immunity indices in the population of the Estonian SSR (an assessment of the effectiveness of a planned vaccine prophylaxis)]

In 1972-1974 and 1977 in the Estonian SSR children and adults were surveyed for the presence of antibodies against tetanus and diphtheria toxins (toxoids) by means of the passive hemagglutination test. The level of protection against tetanus was revealed to correspond to the proportion of child population covered by vaccination: in 1977, with 98.8% covered by vaccination, the level of protection among children aged 7 to 14 years and adolescents of 15-19 years exceeded 98%; with the increase of age (every 10-15 years) the level of protection against tetanus regularly decreased. This dynamics correlated with the existing terms of postvaccinal immunity and the epidemiological independence of tetanus as infectiion. The level of protection in child population against diphtheria in 1972-1974 and 1977 lagged behind the level of protection against tetanus and the coverage by vaccination. The diphtheria component of adsorbed DPT vaccine seemed to be unable to ensure the sufficient level and intensity of immunity under conditions of a sharply decreased risk of encounter with the infective agent. In persons aged 40 years and over the indices of immunity against diphtheria were higher than against tetanus. These indices resulted from diphtheria infection at the prevaccination period and could serve as an objective sign in following up the decrease of the process of diphtheria epidemics.     

Temperature-dependent expression of flagella in Legionella

Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, was analysed by electron microscopy for production of surface structures. Crystalline surface (S-) layers and fimbriae were not detected, but monotrichous flagellation was seen. Polyclonal antibodies specific for the 47 kDa flagellin subunit of L. pneumophila Philadelphia I were used in Western blots to confirm the presence of flagella subunits in various L. pneumophila strains tested, but the antiserum also reacted with flagellin subunits of L. micdadei, L. hackelia [serogroup (SG) 1 and SG2] and L. longbeachae (SG2). Flagellation of Legionellae was shown to be temperature regulated. When the growth temperature of virulent and avirulent of strain L. pneumophila Philadelphia I was shifted from 30 degrees C to either 37 or 41 degrees C, a decrease in the percentage of flagellated bacteria within the population was observed.     

State of collective immunity to poliomyelitis in Moscow donors

Immunity induced by immunization with oral poliomyelitis vaccine has long been considered to last for life, similarly to immunity developing after infection with wild poliomyelitis virus. Vaccine virus cannot circulate among the immune population for a long time. The vaccination of children against poliomyelitis, carried out in the course of many years, has made it possible to suggest that a considerable number of immune persons were present among the adult population. The examination of 1,030 Moscow donors has revealed that antibodies to poliomyelitis virus of types 1, 2 and 3 were detected in 47.3%, 45.5% and 76.4% of the examinees respectively, the values of the average geometric titers being low. It is known that passages of poliomyelitis vaccine virus through nonimmune persons may result in emergence of revertant viruses with increased neurovirulence. The nonimmune adult population, especially the mothers of vaccinated and revaccinated children, may serve as favorable environment for the circulation of vaccine viruses and the appearance of revertant viruses.     

Antibodies to iron-regulated proteins of meningococci in blood sera of healthy persons of different age groups

One hundred and twenty individual sera obtained from healthy persons of different age groups were studied for the presence of antibodies to meningococcal iron-regulated proteins (IRP). The study revealed that occurrence of such antibodies in sera under study was IRP nature- and age-dependent. Antibodies to two IRP were found to occur most frequently: 85 kD (TbpB) and 72 kD (FrpB). Antibodies to the former IRP were detected in more than 50% and antibodies to the latter IRP, in more than 90% of sera. This was probably due to the presence of epitopes common with those in protein antigens of some other microorganisms, such as Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae. The occurrence of antibodies to periplasmatic IRP with 34 kD (FbpA) in blood sera varied within the range of 5 to 30%. At the same time the occurrence of antibodies to this protein in the sera under study was age-depended: children until five years exhibited the minimal occurrence (about 5%), while in adults it reached 30%.     

HBe antigen and its antibodies in HBsAg carriers in various regions of the USSR

A total of 300 blood serum samples, containing HBsAg and obtained from donors in three regions of the USSR (the RSFSR, the Uzbek SSR and the Moldavian SSR) differing in the level of HBsAg carriership, were studied for the presence of HBeAg and antibodies to this antigen in the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test and in the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The occurrence of HBeAg was found to depend on the level of HBsAg carriership in the region. Thus, according to the EIA results, in Gorky, Kishinev and Tashkent HBeAg was detected, respectively, in 5.5%, 12.3% and 13.3% of serum samples, the level of HBsAg carriership in these cities being, according to the results of the PHA test, 1.4%, 5.0% and 9.0%. As shown by the results of EIA, the occurrence of HBeAg increased with the rise of the titer of HBsAg, while regarding the occurrence of antibodies to HBeAg the reverse relationship was observed.     

The intensity of the immune response to the hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus among different population groups of Bashkortostan]

For the first time the natural immune stratum to hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HFRS) among the population of all regions of Bashkiria, a large territory with the highest morbidity level in this infection in the USSR, was studied. 9,176 persons over 15 years of age were examined by radioimmune techniques. Analysis of the immune structure of the population revealed that the share of immune males was higher than that of immune females, but the difference was less than the difference between males and females among the registered HFRS patients. Among children immune persons were almost completely absent. The immune stratum increased rather slowly among persons under 40 years, and only from this age the considerable increase of the immune stratum was observed (up to 16.2%). High risk groups included persons of such professions as forestry workers, truck and tractor drivers, oil workers and prospectors, livestock breeders, builders. These data may be used for the formation of groups to be vaccinated against HFRS in foci with different degrees of activity. Before vaccination the correction of groups to be vaccinated in a given region should be carried out, taking into account the immune structure of the population and the specific features of the local landscape and economy.     

Age of appearance of IgG, IgM, and IgE antibodies specific for Loa loa in Gabonese children

IgG, IgM, and IgE antibodies against the filaria Loa loa were measured in umbilical cord blood and in blood from young Gabonese children by an ELISA technique using a homologous metabolic antigen. For children in eight consecutive age groups and adults the percentage of the population positive for each of the antibody classes was determined. The number of children with maternal IgG decreased until one year of age when new synthesis began to become apparent. IgM antibodies were detected only after six months, probably indicating an early infancy as opposed to a fetal infection. The percentage of individuals positive for IgM or IgE reached a peak between two and three years old, followed by a slight decline. Over half of the individuals over one year of age had IgM antibody against L. loa, indicating long-term synthesis of this class of immunoglobulin in many people. In the first two years of life, IgE antibodies were usually accompanied by L. loa-specific IgM. This specific IgE did not appear to trigger the synthesis of nonspecific IgE. By the age of two, 95% of the population had some antibodies against L. loa and by five the percentage of individuals positive for each antibody class had reached adult levels.     

Avidity of immunoglobulin G to rubella virus in post-vaccination and post-infection immunity

Comparative evaluation of avidity of IgG to rubella virus in vaccinated persons, in patients with rubella or other exanthematous illness, and in healthy persons revealed similar patterns in post-vaccination and post-infection immunity. Virus specific low avidity IgG (index of avidity < or =30%) were detected in patients with rubella during 7 weeks after symptoms appeared as well as in vaccinated persons which were tested 6 weeks after vaccination. Low avidity antibodies in sera were detected in 96% of patients with rubella and in 75% of vaccinated persons which were not immune before immunization. Live attenuated vaccines Ervevax, Priorix, and MMR-II had similar ability to induce low avidity IgG to rubella virus. Increase of low avidity antibodies concentration was noted after immunization of children with low levels of antibodies before vaccination. After immunization of persons with high avidity antibodies in serum, index of avidity remained above threshold. Anamnestic high avidity IgG (index of avidity 51-100%) were detected in majority of immune healthy persons (96.4%) as well as in patients with exanthematous illnesses not related to rubella infection (93.6%). ELISA test-systems for detection of low avidity IgG to rubella virus allow to obtain reliable information about seroconversion rate and characteristics of immune response in vaccines. Detection of low avidity IgG in serum obtained 5-6 weeks after immunization points to primary immune response, whereas identification of high avidity antibodies reveals already immune persons.