Neutralization titers against influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses among a non-vaccinated population from Thailand

Influenza A and B viruses are viral respiratory pathogens that can cause severe infections among birds and mammals. Neutralization assays using human sera are useful to evaluate the risk of circulating viruses to humans. In this study, 359 serum samples from healthy Thai volunteers, who had not been vaccinated against influenza for at least five years, were investigated by microneutralization (MN) assays against influenza A H3N2 and influenza B viruses in 2009. There was no significant difference in neutralization activities against 2006 and 2008 isolates of influenza A H3N2 viruses. However, neutralization titers to influenza B viruses among 2008 isolates were quite low. The results indicate the non-vaccinated study population had some neutralizing antibodies against influenza A H3N2 but not against influenza B viruses.