Intestinal secretory antibody response induced by an oral cholera vaccine in human volunteers.

The ability is reported of a new oral cholera vaccine composed of Vibrio cholerae antigenic fractions to induce a serum and mucosal antibody response after three oral administrations of microgranules to 18 French volunteers according to different protocols of immunization. Specific antibodies were detected in the three different fluids studied (saliva, jejunal fluid, serum) in one third of volunteers before vaccination. An increase of specific IgA antibody level was observed in jejunal fluids of most volunteers after oral vaccination. An augmentation of specific antibodies against vaccine antigenic components was also observed in serum and in saliva after vaccination but in fewer volunteers.