Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 67-71, 2004

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Epidemiological Report

Seroepidemiologic Study on Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus in the Fukuoka Area of Southern Japan: Seroprevalence among Persons 0 - 80 Years Old and Vaccination Program

Kenji Okada*, Kohji Ueda1, Kazunori Morokuma2, Yoichiro Kino2, Ken Tokugawa3 and Sankei Nishima

Division of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Fukuoka National Hospital, Fukuoka 811-1394, 1Department of Health and Welfare, Seinan Jo Gakuin University, Kitakyushu 803-0835, 2Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute, Kumamoto 860-8568 and 3Division of Pediatrics, Kyushu Central Hospital, Fukuoka 815-0032, Japan

(Received November 6, 2003. Accepted March 4, 2004)


*Correspondening author: Mailing address: Division of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Fukuoka National Hospital, Yakatabaru 4-39-1, Minami-ku, Fukuoka 811-1394, Japan. Tel: +81-92-565-5534, Fax: +81-92-566-0702, E-mail: okadak@mfukuoka2.hosp.go.jp


SUMMARY: In Japan, mass vaccination for diphtheria, pertussis, and/or tetanus has been mandated by the Vaccination Law since 1948. In order to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccination policy, we conducted seroepidemiological studies on pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus among individuals aged 0 - 80 years. The pertussis toxin seropositive rates of the vaccine-eligible groups and vaccine-ineligible groups were 55.0 and 57.9%, respectively. The seropositive rate of each group for diphtheria antitoxin was 76.3 and 75.7%, respectively. The tetanus antitoxin seropositive rates were 91.7 and 10.5%, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). For the three diseases, variations were seen between age groups in the geometric mean antibody titers due to changes of the vaccination program. The results of this study show that natural Bordetella pertussis infection has occurred more frequently than expected. In order to establish the most appropriate vaccination program for the control of pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus in Japan, further evaluation is necessary.


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