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Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2016Pertussis is a highly infectious vaccine-preventable cough illness that continues to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality around the world. The majority of... (Review)
Review
Pertussis is a highly infectious vaccine-preventable cough illness that continues to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality around the world. The majority of human illness is caused by Bordetella pertussis, and some is caused by Bordetella parapertussis. Bordetella is a Gram-negative, pleomorphic, aerobic coccobacillus. In the past several years, even countries with high immunization rates in early childhood have experienced rises in pertussis cases. Reasons for the resurgence of reported pertussis may include molecular changes in the organism and increased awareness and diagnostic capabilities, as well as lessened vaccine efficacy and waning immunity. The most morbidity and mortality with pertussis infection is seen in infants too young to benefit from immunization. Severe infection requiring hospitalization, including in an intensive care setting, is mostly seen in those under 3 months of age. As a result, research and public health actions have been aimed at better understanding and reducing the spread of Bordetella pertussis. Studies comparing the cost benefit of cocooning strategies versus immunization of pregnant women have been favorable towards immunizing pregnant women. This strategy is expected to prevent a larger number of pertussis cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in infants <1 year old while also being cost-effective. Studies have demonstrated that the source of infection in infants usually is a family member. Efforts to immunize children and adults, in particular pregnant women, need to remain strong.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bordetella pertussis; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pertussis Vaccine; Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 27337481
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.EI10-0008-2015 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Sep 2021Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. All ages are susceptible. In the prevaccine era, almost all children became...
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. All ages are susceptible. In the prevaccine era, almost all children became infected. Pertussis is particularly dangerous in young infants, who account for practically all hospitalizations and deaths, but clinical disease is burdensome at any age. Widespread use of pertussis vaccines dramatically reduced cases, but concern over adverse reactions led to the replacement of standard whole-cell by acellular pertussis vaccines that contain only a few selected pertussis antigens and are far less reactogenic. Routine administration of acellular pertussis vaccines combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids is recommended in infancy with toddler and preschool boosters, at age 11, and during pregnancy. Boosting in the second half of every pregancy is critical to protection of the newborn. Waning of vaccine immunity over time has become an increasing concern, and several new pertussis vaccines are being evaluated to address this problem.
Topics: Bordetella pertussis; Child; Child, Preschool; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Female; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Infant; Male; Pertussis Vaccine; Vaccine-Preventable Diseases; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 34590129
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa469 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jul 2016Pertussis is a severe respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, and in 2008, pertussis was associated with an estimated 16 million cases and 195,000 deaths... (Review)
Review
Pertussis is a severe respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, and in 2008, pertussis was associated with an estimated 16 million cases and 195,000 deaths globally. Sizeable outbreaks of pertussis have been reported over the past 5 years, and disease reemergence has been the focus of international attention to develop a deeper understanding of pathogen virulence and genetic evolution of B. pertussis strains. During the past 20 years, the scientific community has recognized pertussis among adults as well as infants and children. Increased recognition that older children and adolescents are at risk for disease and may transmit B. pertussis to younger siblings has underscored the need to better understand the role of innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immunity, including the role of waning immunity. Although recognition of adult pertussis has increased in tandem with a better understanding of B. pertussis pathogenesis, pertussis in neonates and adults can manifest with atypical clinical presentations. Such disease patterns make pertussis recognition difficult and lead to delays in treatment. Ongoing research using newer tools for molecular analysis holds promise for improved understanding of pertussis epidemiology, bacterial pathogenesis, bioinformatics, and immunology. Together, these advances provide a foundation for the development of new-generation diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Early Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Male; Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 27029594
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00083-15 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Oct 2015The introduction of vaccination in the 1950s significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of pertussis. However, since the 1990s, a resurgence of pertussis has been... (Review)
Review
The introduction of vaccination in the 1950s significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of pertussis. However, since the 1990s, a resurgence of pertussis has been observed in vaccinated populations, and a number of causes have been proposed for this phenomenon, including improved diagnostics, increased awareness, waning immunity, and pathogen adaptation. The resurgence of pertussis highlights the importance of standardized, sensitive, and specific laboratory diagnoses, the lack of which is responsible for the large differences in pertussis notifications between countries. Accurate laboratory diagnosis is also important for distinguishing between the several etiologic agents of pertussis-like diseases, which involve both viruses and bacteria. If pertussis is diagnosed in a timely manner, antibiotic treatment of the patient can mitigate the symptoms and prevent transmission. During an outbreak, timely diagnosis of pertussis allows prophylactic treatment of infants too young to be (fully) vaccinated, for whom pertussis is a severe, sometimes fatal disease. Finally, reliable diagnosis of pertussis is required to reveal trends in the (age-specific) disease incidence, which may point to changes in vaccine efficacy, waning immunity, and the emergence of vaccine-adapted strains. Here we review current approaches to the diagnosis of pertussis and discuss their limitations and strengths. In particular, we emphasize that the optimal diagnostic procedure depends on the stage of the disease, the age of the patient, and the vaccination status of the patient.
Topics: Age Factors; Bacterial Vaccines; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Humans; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 26354823
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00031-15 -
Medical Principles and Practice :... 2022Pertussis is a common respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Although most cases occur in developing countries, it is considered endemic... (Review)
Review
Pertussis is a common respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Although most cases occur in developing countries, it is considered endemic globally. The World Health Organization estimates there are 20-40 million cases of pertussis annually. Pertussis vaccines played a pivotal role in reducing the burden of pertussis disease as well as infant morbidity and mortality. Although the two forms of pertussis vaccine are effective, each has its advantages and drawbacks. This review aims to review the current knowledge on pertussis vaccines, emphasizing vaccine effectiveness in different populations within a community. Clinical trials have shown favorable vaccine efficacy with acellular pertussis (aP)vaccine. However, observational and population-level studies showed that introducing at least a single dose of whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine within the routine immunization schedule is associated with better disease protection and a longer duration of immunity. On the other hand, wP vaccine is more reactogenic and associated with higher adverse events. Therefore, the selection of vaccine should be weighed against the effectiveness, reactogenicity, and cost-effectiveness. Due to its safety profile, aP vaccine can be offered to wider population groups. Booster adolescent and pregnant immunization programs have been implemented globally to control outbreaks and protect vulnerable infants. Due to the variable effectiveness performance of both vaccines, different countries adopted distinctive immunization programs. Determining the right vaccination approach depends on financial consideration, immunization program infrastructure, adverse event monitoring, and pertussis surveillance in the community.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Infant; Pertussis Vaccine; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 35696990
DOI: 10.1159/000525468 -
Toxins Mar 2022Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory disease caused by infection with , which releases several virulence factors, including the AB-type pertussis... (Review)
Review
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory disease caused by infection with , which releases several virulence factors, including the AB-type pertussis toxin (PT). The characteristic symptom is severe, long-lasting paroxysmal coughing. Especially in newborns and infants, pertussis symptoms, such as leukocytosis, can become life-threatening. Despite an available vaccination, increasing case numbers have been reported worldwide, including Western countries such as Germany and the USA. Antibiotic treatment is available and important to prevent further transmission. However, antibiotics only reduce symptoms if administered in early stages, which rarely occurs due to a late diagnosis. Thus, no causative treatments against symptoms of whooping cough are currently available. The AB-type protein toxin PT is a main virulence factor and consists of a binding subunit that facilitates transport of an enzyme subunit into the cytosol of target cells. There, the enzyme subunit ADP-ribosylates inhibitory α-subunits of G-protein coupled receptors resulting in disturbed cAMP signaling. As an important virulence factor associated with severe symptoms, such as leukocytosis, and poor outcomes, PT represents an attractive drug target to develop novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, chaperone inhibitors, human peptides, small molecule inhibitors, and humanized antibodies are discussed as novel strategies to inhibit PT.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bordetella pertussis; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leukocytosis; Peptides; Pertussis Toxin; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 35324684
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14030187 -
Toxins Sep 2017Adenylate cyclase-hemolysin toxin is secreted and produced by three classical species of the genus : , and . This toxin has several properties such as: (i) adenylate... (Review)
Review
Adenylate cyclase-hemolysin toxin is secreted and produced by three classical species of the genus : , and . This toxin has several properties such as: (i) adenylate cyclase activity, enhanced after interaction with the eukaryotic protein, calmodulin; (ii) a pore-forming activity; (iii) an invasive activity. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of these species responsible for whooping cough in humans or persistent respiratory infections in mammals, by modulating host immune responses. In contrast with other toxins or adhesins, lack of (or very low polymorphism) is observed in the structural gene encoding this toxin, supporting its importance as well as a potential role as a vaccine antigen against whooping cough. In this article, an overview of the investigations undertaken on this toxin is presented.
Topics: Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; Animals; Bordetella; Humans; Respiratory Tract Infections; Virulence Factors, Bordetella; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 28892012
DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090277 -
International Journal of Infectious... Oct 2019Pertussis is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Infants and young children are particularly at risk of severe and life-threatening... (Review)
Review
Pertussis is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Infants and young children are particularly at risk of severe and life-threatening disease. Infectious older individuals may transmit Bordetella pertussis to unprotected infants. Pertussis control measures have even failed in some countries with high pertussis vaccination coverage rates, leading to increased incidence rates. In 2014, this caused the World Health Organization to declare pertussis resurgent in some countries and led to recommendations regarding pertussis surveillance and national immunization programs. Despite the resurgence of pertussis, epidemiology of the disease in Southeast Asia has received little attention. In this narrative review, we describe pertussis surveillance systems, control measures, epidemiologic trends, and region-specific pertussis research in Southeast Asia. We also make recommendations for the intensification of pertussis surveillance and research in the region.
Topics: Asia, Southeastern; Bordetella pertussis; Humans; Immunization Programs; Pertussis Vaccine; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 31369823
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.07.016 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Jan 2016Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory infection, remains a public health priority despite the availability of vaccines for 70 years. Still a leading cause of... (Review)
Review
Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory infection, remains a public health priority despite the availability of vaccines for 70 years. Still a leading cause of mortality in developing countries, pertussis has re-emerged in several developed countries with high vaccination coverage. Resurgence of pertussis in these countries has routinely been attributed to increased awareness of the disease, imperfect vaccinal protection or high infection rates in adults. In this review, we first present 1980-2012 incidence data from 63 countries and show that pertussis resurgence is not universal. We further argue that the large geographical variation in trends probably precludes a simple explanation, such as the transition from whole-cell to acellular pertussis vaccines. Reviewing available evidence, we then propose that prevailing views on pertussis epidemiology are inconsistent with both historical and contemporary data. Indeed, we summarize epidemiological evidence showing that natural infection and vaccination both appear to provide long-term protection against transmission and disease, so that previously infected or vaccinated adults contribute little to overall transmission at a population level. Finally, we identify several promising avenues that may lead to a consistent explanation of global pertussis epidemiology and to more effective control strategies.
Topics: Adult; Bordetella pertussis; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mass Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 26763701
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2309 -
MBio Jun 2014The resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) in countries with high vaccination coverage is alarming and invites reconsideration of the use of current acellular...
The resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) in countries with high vaccination coverage is alarming and invites reconsideration of the use of current acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines, which have largely replaced the old, reactogenic, whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine. Some drawbacks of these vaccines in terms of limited antigenic composition and early waning of antibody levels could be anticipated by the results of in-trial or postlicensure human investigations of B- and T-cell responses in aP versus wP vaccine recipients or unvaccinated, infected children. Recent data in experimental models, including primates, suggest that generation of vaccines capable of a potent, though regulated, stimulation of innate immunity driving effective, persistent adaptive immune responses against Bordetella pertussis infection should be privileged. Adjuvants that skew Th1/Th17 responses or new wP (detoxified or attenuated) vaccines should be explored. Nonetheless, the high merits of the current aP vaccines in persuading people to resume vaccination against pertussis should not be forgotten.
Topics: Animals; Bordetella pertussis; Humans; Pertussis Vaccine; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells; Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 24917600
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01339-14