IMMUNIZATION AGAINST NEONATAL TETANUS IN NEW GUINEA - ANTITOXIN RESPONSE OF PREGNANT WOMEN TO ADJUVANT AND PLAIN TOXOIDS

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  • 1 January 1965
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (5) , 683-+
Abstract
Immunization of pregnant women in New Guinea with 3 injections of plain toxoid had previously been shown to prevent neonatal tetanus. In the present study antitoxin levels induced by 2 oil-adjuvant toxoids (one injection), one A IPO toxoid (2 injections) and one plain toxoid (3 injections) were compared with those induced by the same plain toxoid as used in the earlier study. At term there was no significant difference in the levels for the 5 toxoids, but those for the plain toxoids later declined rapidly. AIPO-toxoid titers were significantly higher than the titers 4567 [1966] IMMUNOLOGY - GENERAL 53536-53544 for the plain toxoids at the end of a year, but lower than the oil-adjuvant titers, which were the highest and most persistent. However, unacceptable side-effects (induced by subsequent lots of oil-adjuvant toxoids) preclude their routine use at present. The results indicate that a maternal antitoxin level at delivery of 0.01 unit/ml is protective. Aluminium-compound toxoid rapidly achieved titers that were better than this for at least a year, with minimal side-effects. Hence such toxoids are recommended for maternal immunization to prevent neonatal tetanus.