Decay of Passively Acquired Maternal Antibodies against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Viruses

Abstract

The decay of maternally derived antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella viruses in Swiss infants was studied in order to determine the optimal time for vaccination. A total of 500 serum or plasma samples from infants up to 2 years of age were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescent-antibody testing. The decline of antibody prevalence was slowest against the measles virus. By 9 to 12 months of age, only 5 of 58 (8.6%; 95% CI, 2.9 to 19.0) infants were antibody positive for the measles virus, and only 2 had levels above 200 mIU/ml. Mumps and rubella virus antibody seropositivity was lowest at 9 to 12 months of age with 3 of 58 (5.2%; 95% CI, 1.1 to 14.4) infants and at 12 to 15 months with 1 of 48 (2.1%; 95% CI, 0.1 to 11.1) infants, respectively. Concentrations of passively acquired antibodies decreased rapidly within the first 6 months of life. We observed no significant differences in antibody prevalence or concentration according to gender in any age group. In conclusion, MMR vaccination at 12 instead of 15 months of age could reduce the pool of susceptible subjects in infancy and support the efforts to eliminate these infections, particularly in combination with a second vaccine dose before school entry.

Development of an Adenovirus-Based Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine: Preclinical Evaluation of Efficacy, Immunogenicity, and Enhanced Disease in a Cotton Rat Model

“…Although results from these studies echo the results obtained from studies with mice (12)(13)(14)(15) and rhesus monkeys (16), they also suggest that the high prevalence of preexisting anti-Ad5 immunity might be a major limitation (10) to their implementation in adolescent and adult populations. Nevertheless, a potential target population for an Ad5-vectored RSV vaccine still exists among infants 4 to 23 months old who present with limited adenoviral preformed active immunity (since Ad5 infections are uncommon early in life) and who have little or no passive immunity (since infants in this age group have already lost most or all of the anti-Ad5 antibodies acquired from their mothers) (17,18). The seroprevalence of human adenovirus serotypes 2 and 5 circulating in different age groups supports the knowledge that antiadenoviral neutralizing immunity is present in newborns and tends to decline after 6 months of age (19).…”

Prevalence of IgG Antibody Against Measles, Mumps and Rubella in Bangladeshi Children: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Need for Integrated Vaccination Strategy

“…For an optimum time of vaccination it is important to understand decaying of maternally derived antibody. It has been that maternally derived antibodies to MMR in Swiss infants decay by the age of 12 months suggesting MMR vaccination at that age instead of 15 months practiced previously [40]. Mumps and rubella vaccination are not routinely carried out in Bangladesh.…”

Diet quality affects egg size and number but does not reduce maternal antibody transmission in Japanese quailCoturnix japonica

“…Both the quantity and diversity of antibodies transferred by females may be important determinants of offspring survival. Offspring with higher initial levels of maternal antibodies also retain maternal antibodies in circulation for a longer period of time than young with low initial levels of maternal antibodies (Goddard, Wyeth & Varney 1994;Nicoara et al 1999;Caceres, Strebel & Sutter 2000). Consequently, offspring with high initial levels of maternal antibodies will have passive immune protection for a longer period of time during the development of their own immune system.…”