Development of Antibodies in Children Convalescent from Whooping Cough.

Abstract

In a study of antibacterial agglutinin, antihemagglutinin and mouse protective antibody in children convalescing from whooping cough, mouse protective antibody was the only one to occur regularly as a result of the disease. Mouse protective antibody in this study is defined as the capacity of serum to protect mice against intra-nasal infection with Hemophilus pertussis. Whereas antihemagglutinin was detected in only 14% and antibacterial agglutinin in 62% of 50 patients, mouse protective antibody was found in 100% of the 20 patients tested. Mouse protective antibody emerged or the titer increased during convalescence in all instances, the increases generally being from 4- to 10-fold. It appears to be the most significant measure of immunity studied, and is being applied to a study of children artificially immunized against pertussis.