Study oH pre-epidemic and epidemic Neisseria meningitides serogroup A and C specific antibody levels among healthy population in Hefei

Objective The study was conducted to determine the current levels of Neisseria meningitides(Nm) serogroup A and C specific antibodies among healthy population in Hefei.Methods Repeated cross-sectional studies were made to repetitive samples of healthy population in three counties and four districts governed pertaining to Hefei during the pre-epidemic and epidemic periods of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007,in order to determine their Nm serogroup A and C specific antibody levels using ELISA.Results The pre-epidemic and epidemic consecutive surveillance had sampled 672-690 healthy individuals.The results confirmed no difference in serogroup A specific antibody levels between the pre-epidemic and the epidemic periods,but distinguishable difference was found in serogroup C specific antibody levels between them.Differences in serogroup A and C specific antibody levels were also revealed between the two epidemic periods.As for the age distribution,children between 0 and 5 years of age,and people above 21 years of age had relatively lower specific antibody levels;whereas in epidemic periods,11-to-15-year-olds,16-to-20-year-olds and those above 21 years of age showed significantly increased antibody levels.Additionally,statistically significant differences were found among different districts during the same period.People in Feixi county and Changfeng county had conspicuously lower antibody levels.Conclusion Given the current situation of Neisseria meningitides serogroup A,C specific antibody levels among healthy population,the vaccination coverage for children and adolescents should be improved,and prevention and control of adult epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis should be strengthened.