THE RISK OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN TWO GROUPS OF YOUNG ADULTS IN COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA: A PROSPECTIVE SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY

Abstract

Evans, A. 5. (Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yole Univ. School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. 06510), C Jeffrey and J. C. Niederman. The risk of acute respiratory infections in two groups of young adults in Colombia, South America. A prospective seroepidemiologic study. Amer J Epidem 93: 463–471, 1971.—This study was carried out on Colombia military recruits from 1966–1968 and on U. S. Peace Corps volunteers in Colombia from 1964–1966 in order to determine risk of respiratory infections in these groups. Seventy-ftve % of 346 recruits had serologic evidence of myxovirus infections over 23 months; 16.6% of 205 Peace Corps volunteers were infected in the first 15 months and another 3 of 41 (7.3%) who were followed an additional 7 months. The higher attack rate in recruits was shown to be related both to higher susceptibility as measured by lower antibody prevalence on entry into service and to greater exposure as determined by infection rates in susceptible persons. The HI antibody titer was a reliable indicator of risk of influenza infection; levels of 1: 40 or more were associated with high degree of resistance over a two-year period. Adeno-virus type 7 infections were demonstrable in 6.3% of recruits and 0.5% of Peace Corps volunteers. Seroconversion to M. pneumoniae was found.in 17.0% of recruits and 14.3% of volunteers.