Detection of Serum Hs CRP and C3 Complement Levels Following Immunization with Measles Containing Vaccine in Iraqi Young Adults

Abstract

Background: Measles remains a major cause of worldwide childhood mortality, and has been targeted by the WHO for global eradication following the eradication of poliomyelitis. Despite the implementation of mass school catch-up campaigns for measles, an outbreak of measles occurred mostly affecting the adult population. Objectives: To measurement of Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein (Hs CRP) and C3 Complement levels in adult volunteers after vaccination with live attenuated measles containing vaccine, and to compare the results with that following vaccination. Subjects and methods: A sero-surveys for serum Hs CRP and C3 complement levels was conducted among [190] healthy young adults aged 18-25 years, randomly selected, and to compare after a national campaign with measles containing vaccine. Hs CRP and C3 complement were detected in volunteer’s sera prior to, 1, and 4 weeks after vaccination, measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Single Radial Immunodiffusion Assay respectively. Results: There was a significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the concentration of serum Hs CRP and C3 complement at week one following vaccination with measles containing vaccine, and returned to normal after four weeks. Conclusions: Raising Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein and Complement C 3 Levels in the sera of adult volunteers after measles containing virus vaccine administration could play a role in increasing innate immune response against measles virus infection and may explain some mechanisms of immune response associated with measles infection.