[Incidence of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies in the population of Milan and of Bari against strains of influenza viruses of epidemiological importance in the winter of 1977-78]

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan. 1978 Mar 31;57(1):95-100.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

A sero-epidemiological survey was carried out on 555 serum samples from normal subjects of both sexes (age: from few months to over 60 years) collected in the late summer 1977 in Milan and Bari, two towns with rather different climatic conditions. In both localities a further large spread of A/Victoria/3/75 strain seems unlikely, since 54% of sera from Milan and 58% of those from Bari have h.i.a. at protective titers. On the contrary, the degree of immunity against B/Hong Kong/8/73 virus is still faiitical level for the survival of A/Hong Kong/68 pandemic strain appears almost reached in the population of Milan, where 76% of subjects have antibody at protective titers. In Bari such percentage is 60%. The statistical analysis (X2 test) of the data concerning the subjects with h.i.a. at titers greater than or equal to 1:40 shows only one significant difference between Milan and Bari, that is the A/Hong Kong/68 antibody prevalence. Probably this is due to the low number of males of Bari with protective antibody levels.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral* / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral