Analysis of Bordetella pertussis populations in European countries with different vaccination policies.
Despite the widespread use of pertussis vaccines during the last decades, pertussis has remained an endemic disease with frequent epidemic outbreaks. Currently two types of vaccines are used: whole-cell vaccines (WCVs) and recently developed acellular vaccines (ACVs). The long-term aim of our studies is to assess the effect of different vaccination policies on the population structure of Bordetella pertussis and ultimately on the disease burden in Europe. In the present study, a total of 102 B. pertussis isolates from the period 1998 to 2001 from five European countries (Finland, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, and France) were characterized. The isolates were analyzed by typing based on variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR); by sequencing of polymorphic genes encoding the surface proteins pertussis toxin S1 and S3 subunits (ptxA and ptxC), pertactin (prn), and tracheal colonization factor (tcfA); and by fimbrial serotyping. The results reveal a relationship between geographic location and VNTR types, the frequency of the ptxC alleles, and serotypes. We have not observed a relationship between the strain characteristics we studied and vaccination programs. Our results provide a baseline which can be used to reveal changes in the B. pertussis population in Europe in the coming years.
van Amersfoorth
S C M
SC
Laboratory for Vaccine Preventable Diseases. National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Anthonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Schouls
L M
LM
van der Heide
H G J
HG
Advani
A
A
Hallander
H O
HO
Bondeson
K
K
von König
C H W
CH
Riffelmann
M
M
Vahrenholz
C
C
Guiso
N
N
Caro
V
V
Njamkepo
E
E
He
Q
Q
Mertsola
J
J
Mooi
F R
FR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012703:Serotyping; D014611:Vaccination; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D037521:Virulence Factors; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins