Assessment of naturally acquired IgG antibodies to pneumococcal vaccine serotypes in healthy and type 2 diabetic adults in India.

Abstract

Purpose: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes, who are at increased risk due to altered immunity. Vaccination is crucial for preventing pneumococcal disease in this population; however, its effectiveness depends on sufficient baseline immunity and the ability to generate protective antibodies.

Materials and methods: This study aimed to measure baseline immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against 23 vaccine serotypes in 56 type 2 diabetic and 56 healthy Indian adults using the World Health Organization-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol.

Results: Protective IgG levels (≥1.3 µg/mL) were observed for 78% of serotypes (18/23) in healthy adults but only 35% (8/23) in diabetics. Significant differences were noted in 13 of 23 serotypes (56.2%), including 1, 6B, 7F (p=0.008), 8 (p=0.01), 9V, 11A (p=0.009), 12F, 17F, 18C (p=0.002), 19A (p=0.0006), 19F (p=0.004), 22F (p=0.0003), and 33F (p=0.04). Serotype 14 showed the highest IgG levels, while serotype 3 had the lowest. Seroprevalence ranged from 17.8% to 98.21% in non-diabetics and 10.7% to 96.4% in diabetics.

Conclusion: The findings highlight differences in baseline immunity and provide insights into pneumococcal immunogenicity in Indian adults with and without diabetes.