Comparative results of the immunogenicity of Edmonston-Zagreb and Schwartz measles vaccines administered to 60 Egyptian infants.

The present study was conducted on sixty 9-11 month infants attending a primary care clinic in a rural Giza governorate area. Patients were divided into two groups: the first group comprised 42 infants who were vaccinated with the Edmonston Zagreb measles vaccine strain, whereas the second group comprised 18 infants who were vaccinated with the Schwartz measles vaccine strain. Estimation of measles antibody titer by neutralization testing was determined by the microtiter technique prior to and 4 weeks post vaccination. The overall serconversion rate was 85%. Three infants failed vaccination. The Edmonston-Zagreb strain was superior to the Schwartz strain in inducing immunity to non immune infants. The nutritional status of the study group was abnormal in almost 1/2 (29/60) infants and borderline in 1/3 (20/60).