A Study on Diphtheria Antibody Titer of Residents in Seoul Area

서울 지역에 거주하는 일부 주민들의 디프테리아 항체가에 관한 연구

Diphtheria was the world-spread, respiratory infectious disease in the past. But after developing the diphtheria toxoid, diphtheria vaccine, composed of diphtheria toxoid, is generalized, so prevalence of diphtheria is sharply dropped. But diphtheria is come back in NIS(New Independent States) in 1990s. It is believed that recurrence of diphtheria is mainly due to shortage of protective diphtheria antibody titer in adults. And it is related to 70% prevalence in adults, not in children. Considering this changing environment, this study was designed to research the diphtheria antibody titer of whole population and existence of titer difference by sex. Also it was studied whether ELISA has fitness as determination method of diphtheria antibody titer compared with neutralization method on microcell culture. This study was done to 277 samples of three hospitals in Seoul area, and sera was tested by neutralization method on microcell culture and ELISA method. The results of this study were as follows 1) Of this studied population, 31.05% had an antibody titer below the protective level (<0.01 IU/ml), 40.79% had a titer of a relative degree of protection (0.01-0.09 IU/ml) and 28.16% had a reliable degree of protection ($\geq$0.1 IU/ml). Therefore, 68.95% had a basic protective antibody titer level. 2) 20-40 age group showed the lowest diphtheria antibody titer among the studied population. 3) GMT of diphtheria antibody titer was the highest in the children. But, after child period, GMT was fallen. Standard deviation value was the lowest in older group. 4) Protective level of diphtheria antibody titer of male was slightly higher than female (70.94% vs 66.66%). But this difference was not statistically significant. 5) Diphtheria antibody titer by ELISA method was wholly higher than by neutralization method on microcell culture. Compared the two results by ELISA and neutralization, the regression coefficient was 0.38. And in titer, which was obtained by ELISA method, false-positive results was abundant.