Hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers as a correlate of protection against influenza disease in the 2018/2019 epidemic season in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the level of antibodies against hemagglutinin of influenza viruses in the sera of people in the seven age groups in the epidemic season 2018/2019 in Poland. The level of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies was determined by hemagglutination inhibition test (HAI). 1050 clinical samples from all over the country were tested. The level of antibodies against influenza viruses was highest in the 10–14 age group for A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2) and B/Phuket/3073/2013 Yamagata lineage antigens. These results confirm the circulation of four antigenically different influenza virus strains, two subtypes of influenza A virus – A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 and A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2) and two lineages of influenza B virus – B/Colorado/06/2017 – Victoria lineage and B/Phuket/3073/2013 Yamagata lineage.