Observations on Natural Poliovirus Infections in Immunized Children

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Abstract
Some 300 incompletely immune members of 118 Louisiana households were given a two-inoculation primary course of Salk vaccine. Serologic response 1 month after the second inoculation was determined by measuring ability of the sera to inhibit cytopathic effect of polioviruses. Over-all, the 3 components of the vaccine were not equally antigenic, Type 3 being least so. De novo response to a particular type of antigen was enhanced materially by preexistence of heterotypic antibody. During the first 7 months following vaccination, child members of these households were closely observed for alimentary infections, a total of 40 household episodes having been detected. These 1956 observations (made after vaccination) on frequency of household episodes of infection, extent of intrahousehold spread of virus, and frequency, duration, and amount of virus excretion in feces were compared with similar observations made in the same study group prior to vaccination. This comparison has led to the conclusion that 2 doses of Salk vaccine did not materially influence frequency or duration of alimentary infection or amount of virus excreted in feces. The prediction is made that a 3rd, booster inoculation also will fail to influence enteric infection and that, as a corollary, extended use of killed-virus vaccines will not result in the gradual elimination of polioviruses from vaccinated areas.

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