[The effect of Habu toxoid--from the view point of public health center].

In order to clarify the effect of Habu Toxoid, serum sampling was performed with from July 1990 to February 1991, on 503 vaccinated subjects living in Amami Islands by staff of Naze health center. Sera were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for levels of serum antitoxin to venom, both anti-Hemorrhagic Factor 1 (anti-HR1) and anti-Hemorrhagic Factor 2 (anti-HR2). Information on vaccinated subjects-age, sex, occupation, vaccination date, frequency, period and interval of vaccinations, years after final vaccination and past history of Habu bites-was obtained and analyzed with relation to serum antitoxin levels. The following results were obtained: 1) Serum antitoxin levels, both anti-HR1 and anti-HR2, of the Habu bitten group (N = 47) were significantly higher than that of the unbitten group (N = 456). This finding suggests that crude Habu venom injected by bites elevated the levels. Regardless of past history of Habu bites, levels of antibody to HR2 was significantly lower than that to HR1. 2) Among the unbitten group, detection of antitoxin was related to subjects' attributes. Production of antitoxin was related to being male, high frequency of vaccinations, long period of vaccinations and short period after final vaccination. 3) Among the unbitten group, anti-HR2 was found in high levels with the following factors: high frequency of vaccinations and short period after final vaccination. However among the well-vaccinated group (N = 153), differences in antitoxin levels by vaccination frequency were not recognized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)