| pubmed-article:1681018 | pubmed:abstractText | Children have been given the diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine (DPT) in Taiwan for more than 30 years. Yet, the antibody responses to DPT have not been investigated in recent years. Two new antigens of Bordetella pertussis, pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin, were identified in B. pertussis several years ago and became the constituents of a new type of pertussis vaccine, acellular vaccine. This study was undertaken to test the antibody responses toward diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis with conventional methods as well as new methods to detect antibodies against pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin. A total of 104 children, at ages between 12 and 23 months, who had received 3 doses of DPT vaccine were tested. Almost all (99%) of them possessed diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin concentrations above the protective level. With the criteria derived from an animal study, at least 85% of the vaccinees might have protective antibodies against pertussis. This serological study showed the effectiveness of the present DPT vaccine in Taiwan. If a new DPT vaccine is to be introduced into Taiwan, it should have at least the same immunogenicity as the present vaccine. | lld:pubmed |
