Molecular epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis in Taiwan, 1993-2004: suggests one possible explanation for the outbreak of pertussis in 1997.
Pertussis reemerges periodically despite high pertussis vaccination coverage in many countries. We used prn and fim3 gene sequences and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to analyze the molecular epidemiology of 168 clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis during 1993-2004, and deduced possible reasons for an outbreak in 1997 in Taiwan. In Taiwan, during 1996-1997, a shift of prn1 to prn2 was reflected in a transition of PFGE group I to group IIIa; during 2000-2001, the change from fim3A to fim3B was displayed in transition of PFGE group IIIa to group IIIb. These changes were also consistent with the two peaks of pertussis incidence in 1997 and 2000. In 1997, a larger than expected increase in the incidence of pertussis occurred and isolates were characterized by complicated pulsotypes, appearance of many new profiles and an unusual presence of prn3. Based on a high resemblance of PFGE profiles and the same virulence genes, a similar shift of circulating strains was observed in European countries as well as Taiwan; thus, the high incidence of pertussis in 1997 may be due to an international expansion of B. pertussis strains from a similar source. This study provides further elucidation of the global molecular epidemiology of B. pertussis.
Lin
Yu-Chi
YC
Laboratory for Bacteriology and Mycology, Division for Research and Diagnostics, Center for Disease Control, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Yao
Shu-Man
SM
Yan
Jer-Jea
JJ
Chen
Ying-Yan
YY
Hsiao
Miao-Ju
MJ
Chou
Chen-Ying
CY
Su
Hsun-Pi
HP
Wu
Ho-Shen
HS
Li
Shu-Ying
SY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000235:genetics; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C101542:fim3 protein, Bordetella; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; C068929:pertactin