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Eurosurveillance, Volume 20, Issue 32, 13 August 2015
Research articles
Age-related prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies against influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, Germany, 2003 to 2010
B Bl?mel (
)1,2,3,4, B Schweiger1, M Dehnert1,5, S Buda1, A Reuss1, I Czogiel1, P Kamtsiuris1, M Schlaud1, C Poethko-M?ller1, M Thamm1, W Haas1
Citation style for this article: Bl?mel B, Schweiger B, Dehnert M, Buda S, Reuss A, Czogiel I, Kamtsiuris P, Schlaud M, Poethko-M?ller C, Thamm M, Haas W. Age-related prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies against influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, Germany, 2003 to 2010. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(32):pii=21206. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=21206
Date of submission: 15 September 2014
To estimate susceptibility to the swine-origin influenza A(H3N2) variant virus (A(H3N2)v) in the German population, we investigated cross-reactive antibodies against this virus and factors associated with seroprotective titre using sera from representative health examination surveys of children and adolescents (n = 815, 2003?06) and adults (n = 600, 2008?10). Antibodies were assessed by haemagglutination inhibition assay (HI); in our study an HI titre ≥ 40 was defined as seroprotective. We investigated associated factors by multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 41% (95% confidence interval (CI): 37?45) of children and adolescents and 39% (95% CI: 34?44) of adults had seroprotective titres. The proportion of people with seroprotective titre was lowest among children younger than 10 years (15%; 95% CI: 7?30) and highest among adults aged 18 to 29 years (59%; 95% CI: 49?67). Prior influenza vaccination was associated with higher odds of having seroprotective titre (odds ratio (OR) for children and adolescents: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.8?6.5; OR for adults: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7?3.4). Young children showed the highest and young adults the lowest susceptibility to the A(H3N2)v virus. Our results suggest that initial exposure to circulating seasonal influenza viruses may predict long-term cross-reactivity that may be enhanced by seasonal influenza vaccination.
Research articles
Age-related prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies against influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, Germany, 2003 to 2010
B Bl?mel (
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE, German FETP), Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Current affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Current affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Freising, Germany
Citation style for this article: Bl?mel B, Schweiger B, Dehnert M, Buda S, Reuss A, Czogiel I, Kamtsiuris P, Schlaud M, Poethko-M?ller C, Thamm M, Haas W. Age-related prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies against influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, Germany, 2003 to 2010. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(32):pii=21206. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=21206
Date of submission: 15 September 2014
To estimate susceptibility to the swine-origin influenza A(H3N2) variant virus (A(H3N2)v) in the German population, we investigated cross-reactive antibodies against this virus and factors associated with seroprotective titre using sera from representative health examination surveys of children and adolescents (n = 815, 2003?06) and adults (n = 600, 2008?10). Antibodies were assessed by haemagglutination inhibition assay (HI); in our study an HI titre ≥ 40 was defined as seroprotective. We investigated associated factors by multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 41% (95% confidence interval (CI): 37?45) of children and adolescents and 39% (95% CI: 34?44) of adults had seroprotective titres. The proportion of people with seroprotective titre was lowest among children younger than 10 years (15%; 95% CI: 7?30) and highest among adults aged 18 to 29 years (59%; 95% CI: 49?67). Prior influenza vaccination was associated with higher odds of having seroprotective titre (odds ratio (OR) for children and adolescents: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.8?6.5; OR for adults: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7?3.4). Young children showed the highest and young adults the lowest susceptibility to the A(H3N2)v virus. Our results suggest that initial exposure to circulating seasonal influenza viruses may predict long-term cross-reactivity that may be enhanced by seasonal influenza vaccination.