Salivary antibody response to vaccination with meningococcal A/C polysaccharide vaccine in previously vaccinated and unvaccinated Gambian children

Development of salivary antibodies at the age of 4 or 5 years to group A an d C meningococcal polysaccharides (MenA/C PS) was studied among Gambian chi ldren, who had received MenA/C conjugate or PS vaccine in infancy. There wa s also a control group of 64 age matched children, IgG, IgA, and secretory Ig concentrations were measured by enzyme immune assay. MenA/C PS vaccine i nduced antibodies both in previously vaccinated and unvaccinated children. The previous vaccination had not induced long lasting IgA-mediated memory. IgA antibodies were secretory, and most of IgG was serum derived. The IgG s alivary response seen was similar to the serum response. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.