Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Measles remains a major cause of worldwide childhood mortality. The use of current live attenuated
vaccine control the disease, and measles has been targeted by the WHO for global eradication
following the eradication of poliomyelitis.
Objective:
To determine the C3 and C4 complement response to measles virus in seropositive volunteers after
vaccination with live attenuated measles vaccine.
METHODS:
Thirty seven measles virus seropositive normal volunteers have been enrolled in this study, they were
25 males and 12 females, their age ranged between 15-45 years. 22 of them were vaccinated with
measles virus vaccine and 15 were injected with diluent supplied with measles virus vaccine
(placebo).
C3,C4 complement against measles virus were detected in volunteer's sera prior to, 1,2,3 and 4 weeks
after vaccination, using Radial Immunodiffusion Assay method.
RESULTS:
There was a significant difference in the concentration of serum C3 complement at week 3 ,
following receipt of live measles virus vaccine in seropositive individuals, while no marked change
was observed in the concentration of C4.
CONCLUSION:
Rising C3 level in the sera of seropositive volunteers after measles virus vaccine administration play
a role in increasing immune response against measles virus infection