Effect of booster doses in hepatitis vaccine non-responders

The effect of 2 booster doses given to non -responders, [NRs] to r-HB vaccine was studied after appraisal of their cell mediated immunity [CMI] using CMI - Multitest [pasteur Merieux Serum and Vaccine Lyon, France]. Seroconversion rate after the initial course of 3 doses of r - HB vaccine given to 247 normal healthy subjects was 92.3% with mean anti - HBs titer of 305 lU/L The vaccine NRs were 7.7% [19/247] who failed to develop protective antibody [<10 IU/L]. Eight of the NRs were examined for their CMI by the Multitest, 5 were found weakly reactive but when given 2 booster r - HB doses they gave good anti - HBs level [> 100 IU/L]. The remaining 3 were non - reactive to CMI- test, and 2 only gave protective antibodies. Out of additional 7 NR s, 6 succeeded to give protective antibody level making an overall successful seroconversion of 13/15. NR s given 2 booster doses [mean antibody titer: 150 IU/L]. In conclusion, failure to respond to the initial course of vaccine appear to be related to CMI incompetence of the vaccines, despite this failing response of the vaccinees after the initial course and their week CMI, a significant proportion [13/15, 85%] could be seroconverted after 2 booster doses

Immunological and virological regulation of Human Rh IgG [anti-D] for prophylaxis of rhesus Rh immunization

Rh immunoglobulin [anti-[D]] has been remarkably successful in prevention of sensitization to the Rh antigen. The immunological role and possibility of viral infection transmission through routine administration of human Rh Ig[G] immediately after delivery to Rh negative mothers were studied. Non of Rh Ig[G] receivers showed anti-[D] antibody level> 16 i. e. Rh unsensitized, while Rh sensitization occurred among non-receivers, [5/21, 238%], P<0.005. This prevalence is significantly increased [50%, 4/8] among mothers having history of abortion [P<0.05]. The possibility of viral infection transmission through Rh Ig[G] was excluded as the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among mothers receiving anti-[D] was not significantly different from that among anti-[D] non-receivers and among different Egyptian groups [in other studies]. In addition non of the studied mothers showed HIV antibodies. This result was highlighted by the fact that all anti-[D] [Rhesonative and BPL] vials were free from viral markers, HBsAg, HCV ab, anti HIV ab, when tested by enzyme immunoassay [EIA] after absorption of Rh Ig[G] [anti-[D]] by blood group [0] Rh positive red cells and confirmed by immunoblot methods. So, it is the [Rh Ig[G]] present in anti-[D] vials in high concentration that causes false positive HCV ab and HIV ab in EIA in which anti-human globulin is utilized while HBsAg as negative [non reactive] in EIA before and after anti-[D] Ig absorption because anti-human globulin is not used in HBsAg Kit. Rh Ig[G] [Rhesonativ and BPL] vials are free from viral markers and they effectively and successfully prevent sensitization to Rh antigen among Rh negative mothers as well

Role of m. pneumoniae in acute lower respiratory tract infection in children

This study was carried out on 120 children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection, their ages ranged from 1-12 years, and 53 healthy children of the same age groups were included as controls. Detection of M. pneumonia was done by culture of nasopharyngeal aspirate on spiroplasma broth [Sp4] and by serologic methods [CF and ELISA]. In this study, M. pneumoniae was detected in 23.3% of all the children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection and 7.5% of normal healthy controls. M. pneumoniae infection was most common in the age group 4-10 years [33%] followed by those aging 10-12 years [20%]. The incidence was low in children < 4 years [6.6%] compared to the other groups. The most common symptoms and signs were cough, fever, constitutional symptoms, rales and wheeze. Bronchopneumonic infiltrate and lobar consolidation were the most common radiological findings