en Original Article <p>&nbsp;<strong> Background: </strong>Cigarette smoking has been linked with the suppression of immune responses and increased susceptibility to numerous infections in humans. Tetanus is also a major public health problem in many countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in c igarette smoking and healthy non-smoking people .</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Materials and Methods: </strong>A total of 100 c igarette smokers and 100 age-matched healthy non-smoker individuals were enrolled in this descriptive study. A blood sample was collected from each participant. The samples were tested for the levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies b y use of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Results: </strong>The seroprotective rate of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in non-smoking group (99%) was significantly higher than that observed in c igarette smoking group (78%, P<0.0001). The mean titer of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in non-smoking group ( 5.32&plusmn; 0.26 IU/ml) was also significantly higher than that in smoker subjects ( 1.03 &plusmn; 0.16 IU/ml P<0.0001). The mean titer of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in individuals with smoking duration >10 years was significantly lower than that among smokers with smoking duration &le;10 years (0.59 &plusmn; 0.12 IU/ml vs 1.98 &plusmn; 0.41 IU/ml P<0.001). The seroprotection rate was also significantly lower in persons with smoking duration >10 years in comparison to smokers with smoking duration &le;10 years (72.1% vs 90.6% P=0.037). The mean titer of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in individuals with daily smoking >10 cigarettes was also significantly lower in comparison to smokers with daily smoking &le;10 cigarettes (0.68 &plusmn; 0.15 IU/ml vs 1.63 &plusmn; 0.36 IU/ml P<0.001).</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong> Conclusion: </strong>These results showed lower levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in cigarette smokers which represents c igarette smoking as a risk factor for susceptibility to tetanus. A negative association was also observed between the immunity to tetanus and smoking burden.</p> Immunity, Tetanus, Antibody, Cigar Smoking 124 131 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-61-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 A Jafarzadeh Jafarzadeh14@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004289 2240031947532846004289 No Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Z Shabani shabaniz20@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004290 2240031947532846004290 Yes Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences M Hassanabadi moa.Hassanabadi@gmail.com 2240031947532846004291 2240031947532846004291 No Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences MT Rezayati m.rezayati@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004292 2240031947532846004292 No Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences M Nemati nemati_m22@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004293 2240031947532846004293 No Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical of School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Kerman University of Medical Sciences AR Sayadi sayadiahmad@yahoo.com 2240031947532846004294 2240031947532846004294 No Faculty Member, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences A Sheikhi Sheikhi 2240031947532846004295 2240031947532846004295 No Dept. of Immunology, Medical of School, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran. Dezful University of Medical Sciences R Vazirinejad rvazirinejad@yahoo.co.uk 2240031947532846004296 2240031947532846004296 No Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences