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Campylobacter jejuni antibodies in Nigerian children
E A Ani1, T Takahashi, R A Shonekan
1Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Insights
Complement-fixing (CF) antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni were found in Nigerian infants, indicating prior exposure. Antibody prevalence was similar in infants with and without diarrhea, but higher in older infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis globally.
- Infant diarrhea is a significant health concern in developing countries like Nigeria.
- Understanding immune responses to C. jejuni in infants is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of complement-fixing (CF) antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni in infants aged 6 to 15 months in Jos, Nigeria.
- To investigate the association between CF antibodies and acute diarrhea in this age group.
- To explore age-related differences in antibody prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 237 infants aged 6 to 15 months.
- Complement-fixing (CF) antibody titers to Campylobacter jejuni were measured.
- Infants were categorized into diarrheal and asymptomatic groups.
- Data were analyzed to compare antibody prevalence between groups and age strata.
Main Results:
- Overall, 36.7% of infants had CF antibodies to C. jejuni.
- Antibody prevalence was similar in infants with diarrhea (33.3%) and asymptomatic infants (38.4%).
- Infants aged 9-15 months showed a higher prevalence (46.5%) compared to those aged 6-8 months (25%).
Conclusions:
- The presence of CF antibodies suggests prior exposure to Campylobacter jejuni in Nigerian infants.
- There was no significant association between CF antibodies and acute diarrhea in the studied infants.
- Age is a factor influencing the prevalence of C. jejuni antibodies in infants.
Abstract:
Titers of complement-fixing (CF) antibody to Campylobacter jejuni were demonstrated in 87 (36.7%) of 237 infants 6 to 15 months old in Jos, Nigeria. Of the total number of children examined, 81 had acute diarrhea and 27 of them (33.3%) were found to have CF antibodies in their serum. The remaining 156 children were asymptomatic, and 60 (38.4%) of them had CF antibodies. In the diarrheal group, 27 of 75 children 6 to 8 months old were CF antibody positive. There was no significant difference in the incidence of CF C. jejuni antibodies in the diarrheal and nondiarrheal infants (P greater than 0.05). Also, infants 9 to 15 months old had a higher incidence of CF antibodies (46.5%) than those 6 to 8 months of age (25%). The data suggest that the infants whose sera were CF antibody positive had had an exposure to C. jejuni. All 33 infants 6 to 8 months of age who had no diarrhea were CF antibody negative.