THE LEVEL OF INTENSITY OF IMMUNITY TO DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS AMONG THE POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA

Abstract

Investigation of state and assessment of population immunity to diphtheria and tetanus play important role in the study of the existing epidemic situation, development of preventive measures and the prognosis of tendencies of development of epidemic process. The aim of this work was the studying of level and estimation of intensity of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in the population of the Crimean Republic. The concentration of antibodies measured in IU/ml was accepted to the main indicator of antidiphtherial and antitetanic immunity. In 2013, in total, there were observed 525 persons, 239 of them — city dwellers and 286 — from the rural area. Indicators of concentration of anti-toxin in examined serums were determined by the RPHA method with using of the standardized erythrocyte diphtheritic and tetanic diagnosticums. The assessment of immunity level was performed according to WHO recommendations on following criterias: concentration of antibodies within 0,015–0,06 IU/ml — conditional protection, 0,1–0,5 IU/ml — moderate protection; more than 1,0 IU/ml — high immunity. Antibodies concentration 0,1 IU/ml was taken as minimal protective level for both antidiphtherial and antitetanic antibodies. Research of intensity of antidiphtherial and antitetanic immunity in the population of Crimea allowed to reveal some decrease in level of immune protection in 2013 in comparison with 2012. The highest number of the seronegative and conditionally protected persons against tetanus in 2013 were noted among pregnant women and newborns — 31,8% and 27,8% respectively. The quantity of unprotected and conditionally protected population among children is 11,1%, among teenagers — 10,5%. The greatest layer of the seronegative persons among adults revealed in age group from 58 and older (15%), and conditionally protected — in the 48 to 57 age group (19,2%). The total number of the seronegative population in relation to diphtheria increased for 5,7%, to tetanus — for 1,7%. Decrease in number of highly immune persons was noted. However sufficient level of antidiphtherial immunity have 77,2% of observed population, antitetanic immunity — 88,2%. Thus, providing of immunobiological preparations of treatment and prophylactic establishments, activity of antivaccinal campaign, the level of sanitary and educational work have affected on condition of antidiphtherial and antitetanic collective immunity in the Republic of Crimea.