Adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus antibodies in the sera of Jamaicans.

Surveys for respiratory virus antibodies in the Jamaican population have shown that adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza types 1 and 3 virus antibodies are acquired early in life. The incidence of haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies to parainfluenza viruses increases rapidly with age and almost all adults possess parainfluenza type 3 antibody, usually in high titre. Parainfluenza type 1 antibodies are only slightly less common. Complement-fixing antibodies to the adenovirus group were also observed to increase in incidence with age.Complement-fixing antibody to respiratory syncytial virus was less common in Jamaican sera than antibody to the other respiratory viruses described here. The highest titres were observed in the youngest age-group.