Article ID: JJID.2018.387
In Turkey, Measles Elimination Programme has been implemented since 2002. The aim of this research was to evaluate the measles specific antibody levels of mothers who admitted to a hospital for birth and their infants, and to determine the factors influencing the antibody levels of both and to evaluate the transplacental transport ratio. We selected healthy women who came to the hospital for birth and their healthy newborns. We collected blood samples from 1547 mothers and 1529 infants.The protective prevalance of measles antibody levels of mothers was 85% (95%CI:78-82), and the newborns’ was 85% (95%CI:83-86). There was positive linear correlation between antibody levels of mothers and newborns’ (R:0.922, p<0.001) and were associated with parity (p<0.001). Neonatal/Maternal Ratio increased by gestational age. The protective levels were 1.6 times higher (95%CI:1.1-2.4) in 32 years old and older mothers, 2.1 times higher (95%CI:1.4-3.3) in naturally immune mothers. Two factors affecting the antibody levels of newborn are the antibody levels of mothers and the immunization status of the mother. The antibody level of mother was the most significant factor that influenced the infant’s. Vaccination of women before pregnancy could enhance passive antibody protection through increasing the level of transplacental transmission.
