Immune Responses in Ileostomy Fluid and Serum after Oral Cholera Vaccination of Patients Colectomized because of Ulcerative Colitis

The capacity of an oral inactivated B-subunit–whole-cell cholera vaccine to induce immune responses in patients colectomized due to ulcerative colitis was studied. Two doses of vaccine induced significant mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody responses in ileostomy fluid against cholera toxin in 14 of 15 (93%) patients and against whole vibrios in 9 of 15 (60%) cases. The serological responses were lower (but not significantly) than those observed in healthy Swedish volunteers. Increased IgA antitoxin levels were found in ileostomy fluid as late as 2 years after vaccination.