Seroprevalence studies of pertussis: what have we learned from different immunized populations

Abstract

Bordetella pertussis is a pathogen-causing whooping cough (pertussis) in humans. Although vaccination against the disease is effective, the bacterium is still circulating among population and can even cause death. Especially young infants, who lack protection, are vulnerable. The laboratory diagnostic methods to detect B. pertussis are culture, PCR and ELISA serology. Reported cases of the disease vary among countries but usually the incidence rates are low, <1 to 10/100 000. However, pertussis often goes unrecognized among patients as it presents itself like the common cold, especially in adults and elders who are often the source of the infection. This makes pertussis difficult to monitor and control. Serological surveillance is an easy manner to estimate the real burden of the disease among population. Furthermore, to have reliable results, anti-PT IgG antibodies should be measured, as PT is the only specific antigen to B. pertussis. This review aims to evaluate available pertussis seroprevalence studies throughout the world, and to compare the findings from countries with different vaccination histories and strategies. Estimation of the real burden of pertussis is compared to reported numbers. In addition, future aspects in seroprevalence studies are considered.

Severe Bordetella pertussis infection and vaccine issue in Chongqing, from 2012 to 2018

“…The clinical and molecular characteristics of pertussis were reported previously (Barkoff et al, 2015;Cassiday et al, 2000;Huang et al, 2017), but the real medical burden of pertussis and the effect of vaccination of pertussis in Chongqing is not clear. The present study analysed the characteristics of pertussis infection from December, 2012 to November, 2018 in Chongqing to establish and evaluate a more accurate method of simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT) to detect RNA of B. pertussis and improve the diagnosis of pertussis.…”

“…Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is primarily caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) (Petridou et al, 2018). The infection rates range from 1% to 12% in developed countries and 5% to 50% in developing countries (Barkoff et al, 2015). Despite high childhood vaccination rates and coverage, pertussis infection rates have increased (Cassiday et al, 2000;Huang et al, 2017).…”

Seroepidemiology: an underused tool for designing and monitoring vaccination programmes in low‐ and middle‐income countries

“…This led to catch‐up vaccination programs and a change in booster dose policy . In the case of pertussis, high antipertussis toxin (PT) titres (>125 units/ml or >65.5 units/ml) are taken as evidence of infection within the last year, because vaccines rarely lead to such sustained high antibody levels , although it may be difficult to use the data to estimate disease incidence in young infants soon after vaccination . Diagnostic methods for pertussis vary within and between countries and may vary by age group.…”

“…Diagnostic methods for pertussis vary within and between countries and may vary by age group. Seroprevalence data are used to estimate true disease incidence (often giving incidence rates several 100‐fold higher than those reported via clinical surveillance), to conduct cross‐country comparisons and to identify age groups contributing to disease transmission . Serosurveillance of pertussis in seven European countries showed that pertussis incidence was related to low vaccine coverage in some populations and to waning immunity in high‐coverage countries .…”

The Performance of Multiplex Immunoassays for Antibody Determination to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis: A Need for Standardisation

“…Another concern for data comparison between countries is the use of different units in serological studies and how to compare results based on these units [14]. Indeed, the units of measure depend on the origin of serum used for the in-house standard calibration.…”