Hepatitis B Vaccination in Patients Infected with Schistosoma Mansoni: Durationof Immunity and Immunogenicity of a Low Dose Intradermal Booster

摘要

In a previous study we reported the efficacy and safety of a plasma derivedhepatitis B vaccine using a vaccination schedule of 3 doses of 20 micrograms each in patients with Schistosoma mansoni infection. Most patients infected with schistosomiasis responded well to the vaccine; however, patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis had a poor immunogenic response. We report here the immune response in 16 of the original 32 vaccinated individuals, 4-5 years after vaccination. Levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were measured using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA) and anti-HBs levels were measured in mIu/ml using the quantitative ELISA technique.