Pertactin-deficient Bordetella pertussis isolates: evidence of increased circulation in Europe, 1998 to 2015

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles 2019-02, Vol.24 (7)
• Main Authors: Barkoff, Alex-Mikael, Mertsola, Jussi, Pierard, Denis, Dalby, Tine, Hoegh, Silje Vermedal, Guillot, Sophie, Stefanelli, Paola, van Gent, Marjolein, Berbers, Guy, Vestrheim, Didrik, Greve-Isdahl, Margrethe, Wehlin, Lena, Ljungman, Margaretha, Fry, Norman K, Markey, Kevin, He, Qiushui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Disease transmission; Epidemics; Gram-negative bacteria; Vaccines; Whooping cough
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X; 1560-7917
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.7.1700832

IntroductionPertussis outbreaks have occurred in several industrialised countries using acellular pertussis vaccines (ACVs) since the 1990s. High prevalence of pertactin (PRN)-deficient isolates has been found in these countries.AimsTo evaluate in Europe: (i) whether proportions of PRN-deficient strains increased in consecutive collections of clinical isolates; (ii) if the frequency of PRN-deficient strains in countries correlated with the time since ACV introduction; (iii) the presence of pertussis toxin (PT)-, filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA)- or fimbriae (Fim)-deficient isolates.Methods clinical isolates were obtained from different European countries during four periods (EUpert I-IV studies): 1998 to 2001 (n = 102), 2004 to 2005 (n = 154), 2007 to 2009 (n = 140) and 2012 to 2015 (n = 265). The isolates' selection criteria remained unchanged in all periods. PRN, PT, FHA and Fim2 and Fim3 expression were assessed by ELISA.ResultsIn each period 1.0% (1/102), 1.9% (3/154), 6.4% (9/140) and 24.9% (66/265) of isolates were PRN-deficient. In EUpert IV, PRN-deficient isolates occurred in all countries sampled and in six countries their frequency was higher than in EUpert III (for Sweden and the United Kingdom, p