%0 Journal Article
%T Antibody responses to respiratory syncytial virus: a population-based cross-sectional serological study in Southern China, 2021.
%A Wang Q
%A Liu N
%A Wang Y
%A Ruckwardt TJ
%A Xu M
%A Wu J
%A Zhang J
%A Tong X
%A Zhou J
%A Lin J
%A Liang Y
%A Yang J
%A Yi L
%A Chu HY
%A Yu H
%J Clin Microbiol Infect
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 7
%M 38852851
%F 13.31
%R 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.06.005
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>With remarkable progress in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis, it is critical to understand population immunity against RSV. We aim to describe the RSV pre-F IgG antibodies across all age groups in Southern China and to evaluate the risk factors associated with lower antibody levels.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We performed a community-based cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study in Anhua County, Hunan Province, Southern China, from July 15, 2021, to November 5, 2021. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against the RSV prefusion F (pre-F) protein using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We estimated the geometric mean titres (GMTs) and seropositivity rates across all age groups. The generalized linear models were built to identify factors associated with antibody levels.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 890 participants aged 4 months to older than 89 years were enrolled. The lowest RSV pre-F IgG GMTs were observed in infants and toddlers aged 4 months to younger than 2 years (3.0; 95% CI, 2.6-3.5). With increasing age, the RSV pre-F IgG GMT increased to 4.3 (95% CI, 4.1-4.4) between the ages of 2 and younger than 5 years and then stabilized at high levels throughout life. All the children had serological evidence of RSV infection by the age of 5 years. Age was associated with RSV pre-F antibody levels in children, with an estimated 1.8-fold (95% CI, 1.1-2.9) increase in titre per year before 5 years of age, although it was not significantly associated with antibody levels in adults aged older than 60 years.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our findings could provide a comprehensive understanding of the gaps in RSV immunity at the population level and inform the prioritization of immunization platforms.