Humoral and Cell Mediated Immune Response After Immunization with Varicella Vaccine (Oka/LG)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the humoral and cellular immune response to varicella-zoster virus after vaccination with varicella vaccine (Oka/LG strain). METHODS: The seroprevalence rate of fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) was evaluated among 178 children and 15 adults. After vaccination, seroconversion rate of FAMA, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) specific IgG and cell mediated immune response to glycoprotein I was performed. RESULTS: The seropositive rate of FAMA against VZV in healthy children ages 3 to 6 was 43.1%. A past history of chickenpox illness was confirmed in 15.2% of children who had positive response in FAMA assay in 90.9%. 34.5% of those without a past history of chickenpox had antibodis. The seropositive rate in children vaccinated with varicella vaccine in the past was found to be 46.3% in questionnaire and 44.4% in immunization schedule, lower than that of other studies (greater than 90%). The seroconversion rates in children vaccinated with the Oka/LG were 97.1% with 2,500pfu and 100.0% with 5,000pfu. Antibodies appearing after the Oka/LG vaccination were found to have glycoprotein I zone confirmed by western blotting. The rate of cell mediated immune response was 88.2% in children and 100.0% in adults. CONCLUSION: Further investigation about the effect of the various varicella vaccines used in Korea and about the cause of their immunzation failure after vaccination is needed.