title: Whooping cough in South-East Romania: a 1-year study.
abstract: The incidence of whooping cough in Romania is substantially underestimated, and, as noted by the health authorities, this is mostly due to the lack of both awareness and biological diagnosis. We conducted a 1-year study in Bucharest in order to assess the circulation of Bordetella pertussis, the main etiological agent of whooping cough. Fifty-one subjects suspected of whooping cough were enrolled. Culture, real-time PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for laboratory diagnosis. Whooping cough patients (63%) were distributed among all age groups, and most were unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or had been vaccinated more than 5 years previously. Bordetella holmesii DNA was detected in 22% of the bordetellosis cases; these patients included adults; teenagers; and, surprisingly, young children. B. pertussis isolates were similar to the clinical isolates currently circulating elsewhere in Europe. One isolate does not express pertactin, an antigen included in some acellular pertussis vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, "Cantacuzino" National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: sorindinu30@gmail.ro.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dinu
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Molecular Prevention and Therapy of Human Diseases, Paris, France; URA-CNRS3012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Bacterial Infections Laboratory, "Cantacuzino" National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Microbiology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristiana Cerasella
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dragomirescu
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Molecular Prevention and Therapy of Human Diseases, Paris, France; URA-CNRS3012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.affiliation: "Dr Victor Babeş" Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazăr
authors.affiliation: "Dr Victor Babeş" Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Geta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vancea
authors.affiliation: General practitioner, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Biatrice Mariana
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.affiliation: General practitioner, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mariana Felicia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gherman
authors.affiliation: General practitioner, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Andreea-Florina-Dana
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bjerkestrand
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Bacterial Infections Laboratory, "Cantacuzino" National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Vasilica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ungureanu
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Molecular Prevention and Therapy of Human Diseases, Paris, France; URA-CNRS3012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guiso
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, "Cantacuzino" National Institute of Research-Development for Microbiology and Immunology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C068929:pertactin
keywords: B. holmesii; Pertactin negative isolate; Whooping cough