The response of institutionalized Down's syndrome subjects to enterovirus infections.

In a study comparing the responses of institutionalized Down's syndrome (DS) and non-Down's (ND) inmates to enterovirus infections, the frequency of wild enteric viruses and the excretion patterns of oral polio vaccine (OPV) viruses were similar in both groups. Antibody titres developed to poliovirus types 2 and 3 following vaccination were similar in DS and ND vaccinees, but the response to type I virus was significantly less in DS vaccinees. As judged by the development of poliovirus antibody in non-vaccinees, the spread of virus from OPV-immunized to unimmunized subjects in the institution was not noticeably different in DS and ND subjects. An unexpected finding was that the excretion patterns of all three serotypes of poliovirus were strikingly similar for each individual, although the patterns varied considerably from individual to individual. The similarity of excretion occurred despite wide differences within an individual in the titres of neutralizing serum antibodies to the three serotypes. It is suggested that the rate at which a given individual eliminates enteroviruses may be largely determined by factors, the activities of which are not reflected in serum antibody titres.