The seroprevalence ofBordetella pertussisantibodies in adolescents in the Western Cape

Abstract

South Afr J Epidemiol InfectOriginal Research: The seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis antibodies in adolescents in the Western Cape Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can occur in all age groups. Over the past 15 years, an increase in the incidence of reported cases has been observed globally. Local surveillance data have also shown an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases. This raises concerns about waning immunity in adolescents and adults. The aim of this study was to screen for seropositivity against pertussis infection by measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers of Bordetella pertussis in an adolescent population in the Western Cape, South Africa. Serum samples were collected from 182 adolescents aged 15-18 years from different racial groups. The SERION ELISA ® classic B. pertussis IgG assay was used to detect human antibodies in serum. Twenty-seven subjects (15%) were seronegative and 135 (74%) seropositive for IgG antibodies. Racial breakdown showed that 84% of the black, 74% of the coloured, and 69% of the white subjects were seropositive, while the largest percentage (24%) of sero-negative individuals was in the white population group. This study demonstrated a high percentage of individuals in the adolescent age group with sero-positive antibody levels. However, it is unknown if these antibody levels are functionally protective. A more rigourous surveillance system would assist in defining and understanding the epidemiology of pertussis in South Africa, and could provide evidence of the need for booster vaccinations in adolescence and adulthood.Peer reviewed.

Bordetella pertussis in School-Age Children, Adolescents, and Adults: A Systematic Review of Epidemiology, Burden, and Mortality in Africa

“…There were five studies which reported epidemiology data for pertussis in Africa, namely Senegal [ 27 ], Tunisia [ 28 ], Algeria [ 29 ], Nigeria [ 30 ], and Uganda [ 31 ], and seven studies which reported sero-epidemiology in Senegal [ 32 ], Cameroon [ 33 ], South Africa [ 34 ], Tunisia [ 35 , 36 ], Morocco [ 37 , 38 ], and Gambia [ 39 ]. There were seven studies with mortality data including Nigeria [ 30 , 40 ], Ethiopia [ 41 ], Morocco [ 42 ], South Africa [ 43 , 44 ], and Senegal [ 27 ].…”

“…The seroprevalence of B. pertussis in the Western Cape, South Africa, was assessed in randomly selected samples from 182 adolescents aged 15-18 years born between 1990 and 1995. The mean age of the population was 15.8 years, among which 74% were seropositive for anti-PT IgG ([ 30 IU/ml), 15% were seronegative, and 11% had indeterminate results [34]. There were two studies providing information on the burden of pertussis and both were based on hospitalized children in Cape Town, South Africa.…”