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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2003, p. 4068-4070, Vol. 41, No. 9
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.9.4068-4070.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Smallpox: Residual Antibody after Vaccination

Stephanie Gallwitz,¹ Ted Schutzbank,¹ Richard L. Heberling,¹ S. S. Kalter,^1* and Jeffrey E. Galpin²

ESOTERIX Infectious Disease Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229,¹ Shared Medical Research Foundation, Tarzana, California 91356²

Received 3 January 2003/ Returned for modification 20 February 2003/ Accepted 13 July 2003

Of all the microorganisms and toxins, poxviruses (Orthopoxvirus) have the greatest potential for use by terrorists. These viruses can spread rapidly through the environment following initial infection. In 1980, the World Health Organization Eradication Program discontinued vaccination for smallpox and declared that the disease had been eliminated. With the threat of smallpox virus as a bioterrorism weapon, questions have been asked about the persistence of protection (as offered by antibodies) following vaccination with vaccinia virus vaccine. To address this, sera from 204 adults vaccinated as children were tested by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the presence of vaccinia virus antibody. Of the 204 individuals whose sera were examined for the presence of vaccinia antibody, 165 (80.9%) had been vaccinated once and 39 (19.1%) had been vaccinated at least twice. Of the 165 sera from individuals vaccinated once, 112 (67.9%) were positive. Of the 39 sera from individuals vaccinated more than once, 31 (79.5%) were positive. The presence of a vaccination scar at the time of blood collection was not determined. Fifty-six nonvaccinated individuals, under 30 years of age, were tested by EIA; four of these (7.1%) were positive for vaccinia virus antibody by EIA. Forty-four EIA-positive and 16 EIA-negative sera were also tested by serum neutralization (SN) as a comparison with the EIA test results; one serum (negative by EIA) was SN positive. No attempt was made to ascertain any demographics other than age (date of birth) and "remembered" times of vaccination.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: ESOTERIX Infectious Disease Center, 7540 Louis Pasteur, San Antonio, TX 78229. Phone: (210) 614-7350. Fax: (210) 614-7355. E-mail: sy.kalter{at}esoterix.com.

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2003, p. 4068-4070, Vol. 41, No. 9
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.9.4068-4070.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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