Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of Bordetella pertussis strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, 1988-2002

Abstract

SUMMARYWhooping cough or pertussis was a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the world until the introduction of a whole-cell vaccine in the 1940's. However, since the early 1980's whooping cough cases have increased in many countries, becoming an important problem of public health. This increase may be due to accuracy of laboratory diagnosis and reporting of the disease, a decline in immunity over time, demographic changes, and adaptation of the bacterial population to vaccine-induced immunity. The purpose of this study was to analyze phenotypically and genotypically a collection of 67 Bordetella pertussis isolates recovered during the period 1988-2002 in São Paulo State, Brazil to determine their characteristics and relatedness. All isolates were submitted to susceptibility testing to erythromycin, serotyping, and 56 isolates were analyzed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). All isolates were susceptible to erythromycin and the majority of them belonged to serotype 1,3. The 56 isolates were classified into 11 PFGE profiles according to the differences in banding patterns. Although more than 60% of the isolates were recovered from patients aged less than three months, almost 15% of them were isolated from adolescents/adults evidencing the increase in the incidence of pertussis among this group of age.

The First Macrolide-Resistant Bordetella pertussis Strains Isolated From Iranian Patients

“…Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis also found an outbreak and source of infection among B. pertussis recovered from Brazilian patients (33). Similarly, in Sweden, Advani.…”

Serodiagnosis as Adjunct Assay for Pertussis Infection in São Paulo, Brazil

“…Specimens were cultured on charcoal agar with 10% sterile defibrinated sheep blood and cephalexin and incubated at 35 to 37°C for 10 days. Colonies suggestive of belonging to the genus Bordetella were confirmed by Gram stain and biochemical tests, as previously described (10). Detection of Bordetella pertussis O1 antigen and serotyping were performed by slide agglutination using O1, Fim 2, and Fim 3 antibodies, respectively.…”

Implementation and Assessment of the Use of Real-Time PCR in Routine Diagnosis for Bordetella pertussis Detection in Brazil

“…The samples that showed growth from the third or fourth day, with colonies suggestive of belonging to the genus Bordetella were confirmed by Gram staining. The biochemical and antigenic characterizations were realized as described previously (19).…”