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Determining the persistence of maternally acquired antibodies to hepatitis A and varicella zoster during the first 2 years of life in Turkey

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Abstract

Vaccination should be timed to take into account the potential interference of maternal antibodies. The purpose of this study was to determine the persistence of maternally acquired antibodies to hepatitis A and varicella zoster in a group of healthy infants between 6 and 24 months of age. These infants were divided into four groups according to the age at the time of follow-up visits. The study group consisted of infants who were brought to the 6-month follow-up visit (group 1, n = 100), 12-month follow-up visit (group 2, n = 99), 18-month follow-up visit (group 3, n = 59), and 24-month follow-up visit (group 4, n = 59). Hepatitis A, varicella IgG, and IgM antibodies were analyzed qualitatively. Hepatitis A IgG seropositivity was determined as 71 % in group 1, 41.4 % in group 2, 0 % in group 3, and 8.5 % in group 4 (p < 0.001). Varicella IgG seropositivity was found to be 5 % in group 1, 4 % in group 2, 4 % in group 3, and 1 % in group 4 (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: We found that maternal hepatitis A antibodies in children disappear between 12 and 18 months, whereas maternal varicella antibodies substantially diminish following the sixth month. Therefore, the vaccination timing should be based on factors such as the interference of maternal antibodies, disease susceptibility period, and immune maturation.

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Abbreviations

CMIA:

Chemiluminescence microparticle immune assay

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

FDA:

Food and drug administration

HAV:

Hepatitis virus type A

Ig:

Immunoglobulin

IgM:

Immunoglobulin M

IgG:

Immunoglobulin G

VZV:

Varicella-zoster virus

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by Ankara University Research Fund (Project code: 12B3330014).

Conflicts of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Social Pediatrics, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Dikimevi, Ankara, Turkey

    Fırat Begde, Filiz Simsek Orhon, Betul Ulukol, Seda Topcu & Sevgi Baskan

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Devran Gerceker

Authors
  1. Fırat Begde
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  2. Filiz Simsek Orhon
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  3. Devran Gerceker
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  4. Betul Ulukol
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  5. Seda Topcu
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  6. Sevgi Baskan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filiz Simsek Orhon.

Additional information

Communicated by David Nadal

Revisions received: 01 August 2014 / 11 October 2014 / 16 December 2014

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Begde, F., Orhon, F.S., Gerceker, D. et al. Determining the persistence of maternally acquired antibodies to hepatitis A and varicella zoster during the first 2 years of life in Turkey. Eur J Pediatr 174, 883–890 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2484-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2484-2

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