title: Unrecognized pertussis infection in adolescents.
abstract: Little information is available regarding the level of immunity to Bordetella pertussis among adolescents. We measured serum antibodies in 156 healthy adolescents to the following pertussis antigens: pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and 69-kd outer membrane protein. In an attempt to identify intercurrent pertussis infections, we also obtained a total of 43 repeated samples during the following 5 years. Using a 50% or greater rise in IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers to define seroconversion, we found an annual incidence of 6.1%; by alternative definitions of seropositivity, the predicted annual incidence of infection ranged from 1.2% to 8.2%. These data suggest that infection with B pertussis is common in the adolescent population.
authors: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus.
authors: B A
authors: BA
authors: Cromer
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Goydos
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hackell
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mezzatesta
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Dekker
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Mortimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine