The seroepidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b prior to introduction of an immunization programme in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Marshall ASJ., Barker CIS., Pulickal AS., Kibwana E., Gautam SC., Clutterbuck EA., Thorson SM., Shrestha S., Adhikari N., Pollard AJ., Kelly DF.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is now recognized as an important pathogen in Asia. To evaluate disease susceptibility, and as a marker of Hib transmission before routine immunization was introduced in Kathmandu, 71 participants aged 7 months-77 years were recruited and 15 cord blood samples were collected for analysis of anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only 20% of children under 5 years old had levels considered protective (>0.15 µg/ml), rising to 83% of 15-54 year-olds. Prior to introduction of Hib vaccine in Kathmandu, the majority of young children were susceptible to disease.