NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (bPIV3) vaccine is safe and immunogenic in young infants, according to a report in the April 1st issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The human PIV3 virus, say the researchers, is second only to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in this population.
Dr. David P. Greenberg from University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and colleagues conducted a placebo-controlled phase 2 trial to test the safety, tolerability, infectivity, and immunogenicity of multiple high or low doses of the bPIV3 virus intranasal vaccine in 192 healthy 2-month-old infants.
Runny nose and nasal congestion, irritability, and cough were frequently reported after bPIV3 administration, the authors observe, with the greatest incidence of these symptoms and fever reported after the second dose. There were no vaccine-related serious adverse events.
The cumulative proportion of vaccinated children who had bPIV3 isolated was 79% and the seroconversion rate was similar in the 2 dosage groups after dose 3 (67% and 57%). These data, the researchers note, suggest a cumulative infectivity rate of 87% in the low-dose group and 77% in the high-dose group.
Seroconversion rates after dose 4 (at 13-16 months of age) were 100% for the high-dose group and 86% for the low-dose group, the results indicate.
Human PIV3 seroconversion rates increased in both the vaccine and placebo groups during the study, the investigators report, indicating that exposure to human PIV3 was likely during this period.
Clarencia Stephen, a spokesman for the vaccine’s manufacturer, MedImmune of Mountain View, California, told Reuters Health that “since RSV and PIV3 are leading causes of pediatric respiratory disease, it is important to develop a vaccine targeting both viruses.”
In fact, she noted that in January, MedImmune filed an investigational new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a combination RSV and PIV3 candidate vaccine.
Source: J Infect Dis 2005;191:1116-1122. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Parainfluenza Virus 3, HumanCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
