PERSISTENCE OF NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY 30-35 YEARS AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH 17D YELLOW-FEVER VACCINE

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (6) , 895-900
Abstract
Previous studies on the duration of antibody following vaccination with 17D yellow fever (17D YF) virus vaccine have indicated that immunity persists for at least 17 yr and suggest that the vaccine may provide lifelong immunity. Sera obtained from 149 veterans of the Second World War, 30-35 yr after military service during which YF vaccination was required for defined groups, were studied. A significantly high proportion of vaccinated subjects was found to be seropositive to 17D YF virus. The highest proportion of seropositive vaccinated veterans (97%) was among navy and air corps personnel, while only 60% of vaccinated army personnel and 19% of unvaccinated personnel were seropositive. This study suggests that: antibody to 17D YF virus, as measured by the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT), persists for .gtoreq. 30 yr following administration of a potent vaccine; army personnel often had not received potent vaccine, even though their service history indicated that they should have been vaccinated; some personnel were vaccinated, although their service did not include vaccination-designated areas; and 88% of veterans with persistent PRNT antibody to 17D YF virus also had mouse-protective antibody against French neurotropic YF virus.