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Biomedical subjects

A Turpin

Publications and source records attributed to A Turpin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Investigation of the immunity status towards tetanus of a population of mechanics at the car-factory "Renault" (author's transl)].

Tetanus immunity has been studied in a population of mechanics working at the car-factory "Renault". For the study, 283 individuals were divided into 3 groups. The first group consisted of non-vaccined individuals, the second of vaccinated individuals and the third of individuals who had been boostered. The influence of different parameters on tetanus immunity status was considered, i. e. the age of the subjects, the time at which boostering was given, the serotherapy (when it was administered) and the contact with machine lubricating and cooling fluids. Clostridium tetani bacilli and spores were frequently found in aqueous machine fluids. Their presence is a potential hazard for non-vaccinated mechanics coming to contact with the fluids. Tetanus antibody levels in the sera of the tested population were determined in vivo by the toxin neutralization test. The influence on tetanus immunity of the different parameters considered in this paper was subjected to statistical analysis. From the whole population, 27% of the individuals were found to have no protection against tetanus. When age was taken into account, 53% of the individuals over 45 years old and 10% of those under 45 years old were shown to be devoid of tetanus immunity. It could be shown that younger individuals were better protected than older ones, because the formers had been immunized with adsorbed tetanus toxoid and most of the latters with fluid toxoid. Of the individuals in the third group who had received a booster injection within 15 years after primo-vaccination, 98% showed protective tetanus antibody levels in their sera in contrast to 25% when boostering had occurred more than 15 years after primo-vaccination. Contact with machine fluids was found to influence the degree of immunity of only those individuals whose boostering dated back to more than 25 years. Unexpectedly, 3 mechanics seemed to develop immunity after coming into contact with machine fluids. From the results reported here, it is concluded that tetanus immunity in vaccinated individuals should be renewed by a compulsory booster injection given every 5, 10 or, at the minimum, 15 years. Moreover, high-risk populations such as that represented by the mechanics should be immunized or boostered on commencing employment.

Adult

[Antitetanus vaccination: preliminary results of a study in Africa].

Two commercialized anatoxins, titrating 30 Lf per dose and adsorbed on Ca phosphate and Al hydroxide respectively, were studied in comparison with an experimental anatoxin titrating 25 Lf per dose and adsorbed on Al phosphate, and with a placebo. 595 schoolchildren from Cameroun were randomly assigned to four groups and inoculated twice, with a year's interval between the two inoculations. Serological checks were carried out by double-blind trials using the passive hemagglutination (HA) method on days 7, 90, 365 and 395. HA titers rose substantially after three months and then fell during the 12th month. The HA method does not give a clear indication of the amount of protection obtained after only one inoculation, but this amount would seem to be small according to the results of neutralization tests carried out on samples. It is only after the second injection that protection is provided for most subjects. Results vary depending on the anatoxin and are not linked to the--benign--clinical reactions observed. This study confirms that if anatoxins with high antigenicity are to be used, two injections are necessary and sufficient to guarantee good immunity protection.

Adolescent

Titration of antibodies to tetanus toxoid by agglutination of purified tetanus toxoid sensitized latex particles.

The method of sensitized latex particle agglutination which we have devised allows the selection of samples of plasma for the preparation of immunoglobulins. The population of thus selected samples is the same as is selected by the in vivo test, having a titer greater than or equeal to 6 IU/ml. The test gives a clear-cut difference between the positive and negative results and does not give any prozone phenomenon. It can be used extensively, as the batches of sensitized latex particles may be stored for quite a long time.

Adult