@article{2986778,
    title = "Sero epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis Immune Responses in a Healthy Population in Northern Greece",
    author = "Polyzou, A. and Pournaras, S. and Dafni, U. and Sofianou, D. and Christeli, E. and Patrinos, S. and Tsakris, A.",
    journal = "Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis",
    year = "2004",
    volume = "18",
    number = "3",
    pages = "211-214",
    issn = "0887-8013, 1098-2825",
    doi = "10.1002/jcla.20025",
    keywords = "hemagglutinin;  pertussis toxin, adolescent;  adult;  aged;  antibody blood level;  article;  Bordetella pertussis;  child;  Greece;  health program;  human;  immune response;  immunization;  infant;  newborn;  normal human;  pertussis;  population research;  seroepidemiology, Adhesins, Bacterial;  Adolescent;  Adult;  Age Distribution;  Aged;  Aged, 80 and over;  Antibodies, Bacterial;  Antigens, Bacterial;  Bordetella pertussis;  Child;  Child, Preschool;  Greece;  Hemagglutinins;  Humans;  Immunoglobulin G;  Infant;  Infant, Newborn;  Middle Aged;  Pertussis Toxin;  Retrospective Studies;  Seroepidemiologic Studies;  Virulence Factors, Bordetella;  Whooping Cough, Bordetella;  Bordetella pertussis",
    abstract = "A seroepidemiological study was conducted on a representative sample of the northern Greek population (healthy individuals, age range= 1 day to 80 years) to assess the prevalence of antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Antibody concentrations were significantly elevated with age (analysis of variance (ANOVA), P<0.001). In addition, a significant increase in antibody levels was detected in subjects >50 years old compared to children aged 5-10 years (post-hoc Scheffe analysis, P=0.007). These data suggest that pertussis occurs frequently in Greek adults, and that sometimes a fifth booster vaccine dose is not given after the second year of life. Routine revaccination with the acellular vaccine for children >4 years of age, adolescents, and adults should be considered in order to ensure effective protection of the whole population. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc."
}