Background: Determining the dynamics of maternally transferred antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella infections in infants is important for making evidence-based policy decisions regarding the timing of vaccination.
Methods: The levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) developed against measles, mumps, and rubella infections were assessed using commercial ELISA kits in mother-newborn pairs (n = 294) and 6-12-month-old infants (n = 280) recruited from Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Antibody levels of mothers and their newborns were assessed with respect to sex and parity. Antibody levels and the protection conferred were assessed in a sample of infants who completed 6-12 months of age in relation to their age and sex. Antibody levels were compared between different age and sex groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test, and correlations of antibody titers were performed using the Spearman correlation test.
Results: The prevalence rates of seropositivity for measles, mumps, and rubella were 91.5%, 89%, and 88%, respectively, in mothers, and 95%, 91.5%, and 93%, respectively, in their newborns. The newborns had mean IgG levels exceeding those of the mothers (P < 0.001). Mothers with natural infections had higher antibody levels compared to vaccinated mothers, which resulted in a higher level of maternal transfer. All of the infants who were 9-10 months of age or older were seronegative for measles, all of those who were 10-11 months of age or older were seronegative for rubella, and all of those who were 11-12 months old were seronegative for mumps.
Conclusions: The maternal transfer of antibodies to newborns is efficient and renders protection until the infants are 6-7 months old in the case of mumps and rubella and 7-8 months old in the case of measles. Hence infants remain vulnerable to infections before the first dose of the MMR vaccine.
Keywords: Childhood infection; Maternal antibody transfer; Measles; Mumps; Rubella; Seroprevalence.
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