[Pertussis seroprevalence and vaccination status in three selected provinces of Turkey].

The aim of this community-based seroepidemiological survey was to assess the immune status against pertussis among the healthy population in three selected provinces with different geographical and socioeconomical status (Antalya, Diyarbakir and Samsun, located at Mediterrenean, Southeast Anatolia and Black Sea regions of Turkey, respectively) in relation with DwPT (whole cell pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids) vaccination status. A total of randomly selected 2085 subjects ages between 6 months to > 50 years were included to the study. Serum samples have been screened for the presence of pertussis antibodies by an in house ELISA method with the use of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antigens.

[A field survey carried out on the confirmation of a pertussis case in a village of Kirikkale Province, Turkey].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the existence and the rate of pertussis infection in December 2002 among the symptomatic contacts in Konurhaciobasi village of Kirikkale province (placed in middle Anatolia, Turkey, with a population of 500 people), where a laboratory-confirmed pertussis case was defined by culture positivity. Sixty contacts with cough history of more than two weeks have been interviewed and their nasopharyngeal swabs have been collected together with the serum samples from 47 of them. "Probable case" definition included cough lasting longer than two weeks together with at least one of the following symptoms: paroxysms of cough, inspiratory "whooping" and post-tussive vomiting without other apparent cause.

Tetanus immunization status among women of childbearing age in Turkey.

In order to assess the effect of the neonatal tetanus elimination program in Turkey, tetanus antibody prevalence among women of childbearing age from three selected provinces was evaluated in relation to vaccination doses of the single-type tetanus vaccine. A combined method of in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and particle agglutination test was used to determine tetanus antibody titers. Among 205 women aged 20-39 years, the tetanus antibody level was higher in women with 1-3 children than those without children.

Prevalence of high antibody titers of pertussis in Turkey: reflection of circulating microorganism and a threat to infants.

Acute pertussis infection among adults can cause its transmission to the larger population, especially to infants and young children, who can develop severe disease. In order to determine an age-dependent pertussis immune response, anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibody was detected by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in serum samples from 2,085 healthy subjects ranging in age from 6 months to > or = 60 years. Also included in the evaluation were responses to a questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, vaccination, and infection history.

Immunity against tetanus and effect of vaccination in Turkey.

The immune status against tetanus in relation to vaccination was investigated among healthy populations in 3 selected provinces in Turkey (n=2094). In-house ELISA supplemented with the particle agglutination test was performed for this purpose. An exact correlation was found between vaccination status and immunity against tetanus.

Measles seroepidemiology in 3 cities in Turkey.

Objective: To evaluate immunity against measles and its relation with some variables among healthy subjects in 3 cities in Turkey.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on measles antibody titers in the serum samples of 712 people from Antalya, 696 from Diyarbakir and 667 from Samsun, Turkey using particle agglutination test between February 2000 and October 2001. The study groups, informed and asked for their consent by midwives, consisted of randomly selected subjects of all ages older than 6 months.

[Standardization of an in-house ELISA for pertussis serology and its application in a seroepidemiological study].

Seroepidemiological studies need sensitive, practicle and cost-effective methods. For pertussis serosurveillance, an in-house ELISA for antipertussis-toxin (PT) and anti-filamentous-hemagglutinin (FHA) were established in our laboratory and compared by a Ball-ELISA which had been reported to be reliable previously. Sixty sera with various antibody titers were tested by both of the methods.

Seroprevalance of Bordetella pertussis antibodies among healthy adolescent girls in Edirne.

Objective: Immune response against pertussis can be induced by infection and/or vaccination and vaccine induced immunity is known to wane within the decade following vaccination. Our aim was to assess the pertussis immune response among adolescent girls in the province of Edirne in Turkey. In addition we determined the relationship between the immune response and age, residence, and vaccination status.

Oral findings and health status among hospitalized patients with physical disabilities, aged 60 or above.

The purpose of the study was to determine oral health status and the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among hospitalized elderly patients with physical disabilities. The study group consisted of 111 (43 male and 68 female) elderly patients with physical disabilities. Clinical examination and interview methods were employed.

Tetanus antibody assay combining in-house ELISA and particle agglutination test and its serosurvey application in a province in Turkey.

In order to determine a practically useful quantitative assay method for tetanus antibody in a large-scale seroepidemiological study, a method combining an in-house ELISA with a particle agglutination test (KPA) was evaluated in comparison with the in vivo mouse neutralization test. Serum samples with mouse neutralization antibody titers 0.01 IU/ml (the minimum protective level) or below showed considerable overestimation of antitoxin titers up to 1.

Community-based seroepidemiology of tetanus in three selected provinces in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to assess immunity levels against tetanus in the areas of 26 health centers in Samsun, Antalya, and Diyarbakir in Turkey in 2000 - 2001. The study group consisted of 2,465 healthy subjects aged 6 months old or above, randomly selected from each age group in the area. Of these, a total of 2,094 (85.

[Standardization of neutralization tests using the COBL cell line and comparison with the particle agglutination test for measles serology].

The aim of the present study was the detection and comparison of measles antibody titers with particle agglutination (PA) and neutralization (Nt) methods, in the sera samples of 364 subjects from different age groups. PA method was performed with a commercial test kit (Serodiameasles, Fujirebio Com. Japan), and Nt test which was standardized in this study, by using COBL (cord blood) cell lines, has been started to use in our laboratory as a reference method.