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Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, November 2008, p. 1694-1698, Vol. 15, No. 11
1071-412X/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00279-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Serogroup C Meningococci in England in the Postvaccination Era {triangledown}

Caroline L. Trotter,1* Ray Borrow,2 Jamie Findlow,2 Ann Holland,2 Sarah Frankland,2 Nick J. Andrews,3 and Elizabeth Miller4

Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom,1 Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Health Protection Agency North West, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom,2 Statistics Unit, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, Colindale, London, United Kingdom,3 Immunisation Department, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, Colindale, London, United Kingdom4

Received 31 July 2008/ Returned for modification 26 August 2008/ Accepted 22 September 2008

The United Kingdom introduced meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccines in 1999, resulting in substantial declines in serogroup C disease and carriage. Here, we measured the age-specific prevalence of serum bactericidal antibodies (SBA) to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations to serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y in 2,673 serum samples collected in England between 2000 and 2004. We compared the seroprevalence of SBA titers of ≥8 in the postvaccination era with results from an earlier prevaccination study conducted using the same methods. We found that the percentages of individuals with protective SBA titers were higher in 2000 to 2004 in all of the age groups targeted for MCC vaccination. In the postvaccine era, the prevalence of protective titers was high (75%) in children who had recently been offered routine immunization, but this fell to 36% more than 18 months after scheduled immunization. In the cohorts targeted in the catch-up campaign, the percentage achieving SBA titers of ≥8 was higher in children offered the vaccine at ages 5 to 17 years than in children offered the vaccine at ages 1 to 4 years. The geometric mean concentration (GMC) IgG for serogroup C followed a similar pattern, corresponding to the age at and time since scheduled MCC vaccination. Serogroup-specific IgG GMCs for W-135 and Y were low and showed little variation by age. Serogroup A IgG GMCs were higher, possibly reflecting exposure to cross-reacting antigens. Although the incidence of serogroup C disease remains low due to persisting herd effects, population antibody levels to serogroup C meningococci should be monitored so that potentially susceptible age groups can be identified should herd immunity wane.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 117 928 7220. Fax: 44 117 928 7292. E-mail: caroline.trotter{at}bristol.ac.uk

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 30 September 2008.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, November 2008, p. 1694-1698, Vol. 15, No. 11
1071-412X/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00279-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • de Voer, R. M., van der Klis, F. R. M., Niers, L. E. M., Rijkers, G. T., Berbers, G. A. M. (2009). Absence of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C-Specific Antibodies during the First Year of Life in The Netherlands: an Age Group at Risk?. CVI 16: 1521-1523 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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