Factors Associated with Antibody Levels among Children Aged 15 to 59 Months Vaccinated against Hepatitis B during the Expanded Program on Immunization in Cameroon

Background: the hepatitis B virus infection remains a major public health problem worldwide. It can lead to a liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the implementation of generalised vaccination programs against hepatitis B. In Cameroon, this vaccine was introduced in the expanded program on immunization (EPI) in 2005, but few studies have assessed the immune response. Objective: the general objective of this study was to identify factors associated with antibody levels among children aged from 15 to 59 months vaccinated against hepatitis B during the EPI in Cameroon. Method: this was a cross-sectional study carried out from December 2021 to June 2022 in a paediatric centre of Yaoundé (Cameroon). We analysed the antibody level in children vaccinated against hepatitis B within the framework of the EPI. We enrolled children who had received a series of 3 intramuscular doses of hepatitis B vaccine at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after birth. Some children could receive a 4th booster dose between 12 months. The antibody level was assessed by measuring the anti-HBs in such children, aged 15 - 59 months. A good immunization was defined as a serum level of anti-HBs antibody level above 100 IU/mL;a poor immunization, for an anti-HBs antibody level between 10 and 100 IU/mL;and a non-immunization, for an anti-HBs antibody level < 10 IU/mL. Association between explored factors and poor or non-immunization was evaluated through the Chi square test. The significance threshold was defined at p < 0.05. Results: sixty subjects were included in the study with a slight female majority: 31 cases (52%). The average age was 38.5 ± 15.7 months (range 15 - 59 months). We found 32 (53%) cases of good immunization;21 (35%) of poor immunization;and 7 children (12%) with a non-immunization. The only factor associated with poor or non-immunization was the age between 37 - 59 months (p = 0.016). Conclusion: Anti HBs Antibody levels in children vaccinated against hepatitis B virus were globally satisfactory in our series. Results show an association between low antibody levels with older age (over 36 months), suggesting a circulating antibodies levels decrease over time, yet deemed protecting until 59 months.

Effect of Attenuated Highly Pathogenic Pig Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome(HP-PRRS) TJM-F92 Strain Vaccine on Immune Antibody Levels against Classical Swine Fever(CSF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease(FMD)

Effects of attenuated highly pathogenic pig reproductive and respiratory syndrome（HP-PRRS）TJM-F92 strain vaccine on immune antibody level against classical swine fever（CSF）and foot-and-mouth disease（FMD）were studied from October 8 to November 12 in 2014,in order to optimize vaccination program of CSF,HP-PRRS and FMD and to provide scientific guidance for animal disease control and prevention work.The results showed that attenuated HP-PRRS（TJMF92 strain）vaccine had no significant effect on immune antibody level of hog cholera lapinized virus（HCLV,ST passage cell vaccine）attenuated vaccine and FMD-O inactivated vaccines（OZK/93 strain）,and single or combined use of three vaccines received good immunization effects.

St udy on Hsp90 Expression in Different Tissues and Its Antibody in Serum of Chickens Infected with Marek's Diseases

To investigate the dynamic change of heat shock protein 90 （Hsp90） in the genesis and development of tumor, we successfully established tumor animal model using Marek’s disease and then determined the location of Hsp90 in the tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry method, the antibody titer level of Hsp90 in the serum and the expression level in the tissue using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method. Our result showed that Hsp90 location in the tumor tissue was signiifcantly associated with the tumor cell and most in the cytoplasm of the tumor cell, and Hsp90 expression level in the tissue and the antibody titer level in the serum was most signiifcantly increased with the development of tumor. This is the ifrst report to show the presence of Hsp90 in tumor tissues induced by the Marek’s disease, with its expression correlated to the tumoral grading. These data may also be valuable for developing new molecular anti-cancer therapies.

Coarse Extraction and Identification of Non-specific Transfer Factors from Goose Spleens

[ Objective] To extract non-specific transfer factors （TFs） from goose spleens and to detect the activity of the extracts. [Methodl The non-specific TFs were extracted crudely from goose spleens using the dialysis method, and the effects of the extracts on immunity were studied. [ Result] The extracts of goose TFs were transparent, light yellow and non-toxic. The extracts were at pH 6.72 and did not contain higher molecular weight proteins. The concentration of minor polypeptides was 23.78 ug/ml. The results of immunization test showed that the level of antibodies was higher in the geese inoculated with the inactivated vaccine against infections serositis and the extracts of TFs than in the control geese injected with normal saline. In addition, the level of antibodies was significantly higher in the geese only inoculated with inactivated vaccine than in the control geese. The results showed that the extracts of TFs from goose spleens could enhance immunity to a certain extent. [ Conclusion] The study pro- vides a theoretical basis and technical reference for further researches on the biological activity of non-specific TFs from goose spleens as well as for application of the extracts.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment on Levels of Blocking Antibody, β-hCG, Progesterone and Estradiol in Spontaneous Abortion

Objective: To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on abnormalmaternal-fetal immune and endocrine in 24cases of threatened abortion (TA) and 68 cases of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods: The levels of blocking effect (BE),antiidiotype antibody (AIA), cytotoxin antibody (CTA), β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG), progesterone (P), estradiol (E2)were measured in all 92 patients. Results: Incidence rates of the lack of BE, AIA and CTAin 92 cases were 60. 87%, 57. 61 % and 72.83% respectively. The lower levels of BE,AIA and CTA were elevated significantly (P< 0. 05 ～0. 01 ), and the serial levels β- hCG, P and E2 were markedly increasing (P< 0. 01 ) in all successful pregnant patients.The rate of the successful pregnancy of 92 cases was 89. 13 % (to TA 91. 67%, to RSA 88.24 % respectively). Conclusions: It suggeststhat the lack of blocking antibody (BA) andendocrine hormone deficiency may result inspontaneous abortion during early pregnancy.The therapeutic mechanism of those herbs intreating spontaneous abortion was associatedwith the growing levels of BA and hormone byregulating the maternal-fetal immunity and endocrine.