The present status of trachoma vaccination studies

Abstract

The control of trachoma is still an outstanding problem for many developing countries, despite the widespread use of antibiotics both for prevention and treatment. The isolation of the causal agent in 1957 gave hope of developing a prophylactic vaccine, and in recent years much research has been done on this subject. This article summarizes the requirements that have to be met by a trachoma vaccine and problems arising in its manufacture and testing. A review of the progress made by various workers in this field suggests that, although some vaccines now being tested are partially effective, much remains to be learned about immunity to trachoma and methods of inducing it artificially.