Comparison of culture and real-time PCR for detection of Bordetella pertussis isolated from patients in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Due to contagiousness of pertussis, a rapid and sensitive method for diagnosis is required to initiate the treatment and interrupt its transmission.


METHODS
To detect B. pertussis strains, we used two real-time PCR targeting IS481 and BP283 sequences and compared factors influencing culture and real-time PCR results.


RESULTS
Totally, 779 specimens were collected from patients among which 11 (1.4%) were culture positive. Using IS481 and BP283 primers, 122 (15.6%) and 100 (12.8%) were diagnosed as infected specimens respectively. There were significant relationships between the real-time PCR method for diagnosis of B. pertussis and age, sex and vaccination of patients before sampling.


CONCLUSIONS
The real-time PCR is superior and much more sensitive than culture for diagnosis of B. pertussis. However, the sensitivity was improved when both IS481 and BP283 were used. Correct sampling and transportation of specimen also improved the detection rate in our research.
Pertussis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran.
Vajiheh Sadat
VS
Nikbin
Pertussis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran.
Fereshteh
F
Shahcheraghi
Pertussis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran.
Masoumeh Nakhost
MN
Lotfi
Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
Seyyed Mohsen
SM
Zahraei
Pertussis Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran.
Masoumeh
M
Parzadeh
BP283; Bordetella pertussis; IS481; real-time PCR