Vaccination of pediatric nurses with live attenuated cytomegalovirus
G. R. Fleisher, S. E. Starr, H. M. Friedman and S. A. Plotkin
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections contribute considerably to
morbidity and mortality among infants in the United States. In a
preliminary study aimed at protecting fetuses from congenital disease we
evaluated Towne 125-strain CMV vaccine in ten female pediatric nurses of
childbearing age. The women were seen 2, 4, 8, 12, 26, 39, and 52 weeks
after vaccination; specimens were obtained for routine laboratory testing,
virus isolation, cell-mediated immunity testing, and serologic examination
(complement fixation, anticomplement immunofluorescence [ACIF], and
neutralization). Local but not systemic reactions were observed in all
subjects. Serologic responses appeared at two to four weeks and peaked at
four to eight weeks. Mean titers were highest in the ACIF test. A
cell-mediated immune response, as assayed by lymphocyte proliferation, was
observed in all women, and in most there was a biphasic pattern. Towne
125-strain CMV vaccine seems to be safe and immunogenic in women of
childbearing age.
