Search for poliovirus long-term excretors among patients affected by agammaglobulinemia

Clin Immunol. 2004 Apr;111(1):98-102. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2003.11.011.

Abstract

Patients with agammaglobulinemia may excrete enteroviruses, including vaccine-derived poliovirus, for prolonged periods of time. This poses a risk to the patients but it also may pose a risk to the population after eradication of poliovirus and the cessation of routine vaccination. To assess this risk, a pilot study was performed to identify potential poliovirus long-term excretors in a cohort of 38 patients with a definite/presumptive diagnosis of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Stool samples were analyzed to detect any polio or other enteroviruses replicating in the gut and neutralizing antibodies against polioviruses were measured in the sera. No viruses were isolated from the stool samples and most sera had neutralizing antibody levels against all three poliovirus serotypes considered by the WHO to be protective in immunocompetent individuals. This suggests that long-term excretion of enteroviruses in patients with agammaglobulinemia is relatively uncommon.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Agammaglobulinemia / virology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Carrier State*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Poliovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / immunology
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral