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Updated: Sep 3, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
[IgG subclass antibodies in children of Vallidolid. Low materno-fetal protection]
F J Gutiérrez Diéz1, A Blanco Quirós, A Ponce Ortega
1Cátedra de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Valladolid.
Insights
Anti-tetanus immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels were assessed in 144 individuals in Valladolid. Results indicate poor tetanus protection in mothers and newborns, highlighting a critical public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Serology
- Vaccinology
Context:
- Study conducted in Valladolid, Spain, in 1988.
- Included 144 participants: parturient women, newborns, and children aged 1.5 months to 14 years.
- Utilized Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for antibody determination.
Purpose:
- To evaluate anti-tetanus serology, specifically IgG antibodies and their subclasses, in a diverse population group.
- To assess the level of tetanus protection in mothers, newborns, and children.
- To compare antibody levels with established protective thresholds and international data.
Summary:
- Highest mean anti-tetanus IgG antibody levels were observed in children aged 1.5-3 years, while mothers exhibited significantly lower levels (1.0 +/- 1.6 Ua/ml).
- A substantial percentage of mothers (74%) and newborns (80%) had non-protective antibody levels.
- Good correlation was found among IgG subclasses, with IgG2 and IgG3 showing the least decrease post-vaccination.
Impact:
- Highlights inadequate anti-tetanus protection in parturient women and newborns in the studied population.
- Suggests a potential vulnerability to tetanus in this demographic compared to international reports.
- Underscores the need for further investigation and potential interventions to improve tetanus immunity in mothers and neonates.
Abstract:
The anti-tetanus serology was studied in Valladolid during 1988. IgG-antibodies and every one of four IgG-subclasses were determined by ELISA in 144 sera. In this study were included 31 parturient women, 20 newborn, 68 children 1.5-14 years old and 25 younger than 18 months. A 0.01 UI/ml sensibiling and a 8.5% interassay variability coefficient were achieved. The highest mean antibodies level (70.9-39.6 Ua/ml) was presented by children 1.5-3 years old and the lowest (31.1 +/- 15.9 Ua/ml) by 3-5 years old; nevertheless in mothers it was only 1.0 +/- 1.6 Ua/ml. Among children 1.5-14 years old we found only 5/63 (7.9%) cases with non-protective antibodies level. On the contrary, in mothers it increased until 23/31 (74%) and until 16/20 (80%) in cord blood. Antibodies of four IgG subclasses has each other a good correlation, especially IgG1/G2/G4 (p less than 0.001). The IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses were the antibodies which lesser decreased after vaccination. We emphasize the poor anti-tetanus protection of mothers and newborns, lower than levels reported in other countries.
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