Antibody Response in Serum and Nasopharynx after Naturally Acquired and Vaccine-Induced Infection with Rubella Virus

Abstract

Antibody response to rubella virus was studied in serum and nasopharyngeal secretions after natural infection, intranasal inoculation with RA-27/3 rubella vaccine and subcutaneous administration of HPV-77 DK/12 rubella-virus vaccine. Serum antibody responses after natural infection or immunization were similar and characterized by the sequential appearance of γM, γG and occasionally γA antibody. Secretory antibody response after natural infection or intranasal immunization was characterized by regular appearance of nasopharyngeal γntibody. Little or no nasopharyngeal response was observed after subcutaneous immunization with HPV-77 vaccine. These data may explain the poor nasopharyngeal immunity to reinfection with wild rubella virus in subjects previously immunized with parenterally administered rubella-virus vaccine.