Long-Term Persistence of Mumps Antibody after Receipt of 2 Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccinations and Antibody Response after a Third MMR Vaccination among a University Population

Authors

Anand Date, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Moe H. Kyaw, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Alison M. Rue, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Julie Klahn, University of Nebraska at Kearney
LeAnn Obrecht, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Terry Krohn, Two Rivers Public Health Department, Kearney
Josh Rowland, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Steve Ruben, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland
Thomas J. Safranek, Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemFollow
William J. Bellini, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Gustavo H. Dayan, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Date of this Version

6-15-2008

Comments

Published in Journal of Infectious Disease 2008:197 (15 June). Published by University of Chicago Press. Used by permission.

Abstract

Background. High attack rates among vaccinated young adults reported during the 2006 mumps outbreak in the United States heightened concerns regarding mumps vaccine failure.

Methods. Serum specimens from university students and staff were tested for mumps immunoglobulin (Ig) G by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A subset of participants vaccinated for ≤5 years and ≥15 years were tested by neutralizing antibody (NA) assay. Persons seronegative by EIA were offered a third dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR3), and serum specimens were obtained 7–10 days and 2–3 months after its administration.

Results. Overall, 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91%–96%) of the 440 participants were seropositive. No differences existed in seropositivity rates by sex, age, age at receipt of the second dose of MMR vaccine (MMR2), or time since receipt of MMR2 (P = .568). The geometric mean titer (GMT) of NA among persons vaccinated with MMR2 during the previous 1–5 years was 97 (95% CI, 64–148), whereas, among those vaccinated ≥15 years before blood collection, the GMT was 58 (95% CI, 44–76) (P = .065). After MMR3, 82% (14/17) and 91% (10/11) seroconverted in 7–10 days and 2–3 months, respectively.

Conclusions. Lower levels of NA observed among persons who received MMR2 ≥15 years ago demonstrates antibody decay over time. MMR3 vaccination of most seronegative persons marked the capacity to mount an anamnestic response.