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THE BORDET-GENGOU BACILLUS OF PERTUSSIS

M Wollstein1

  • 1Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, New York.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The Bordet-Gengou bacillus is found in early pertussis cases but is hard to isolate after two weeks. This study supports it as a pertussis cause, though new evidence is limited.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a respiratory infection.
  • The causative agent of pertussis has been debated, with Bordet-Gengou bacillus and influenza bacillus as candidates.
  • Understanding the pathogen is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Bordet-Gengou bacillus in pertussis.
  • To compare the presence and characteristics of Bordet-Gengou bacillus and influenza bacillus in pertussis patients.
  • To explore immune responses to these bacteria in pertussis.

Main Methods:

  • Bacteriological examination of sputum from pertussis patients.
  • Isolation and identification of Bordet-Gengou bacillus and influenza bacillus.
  • Serological tests, including agglutinin and complement deviation tests, using patient and rabbit sera.

Main Results:

  • Bordet-Gengou bacillus is present in early pertussis sputum and lungs in fatal cases, but difficult to isolate after two weeks.
  • Influenza bacillus is found early and persists longer in sputum than Bordet-Gengou bacillus.
  • Agglutinin levels and complement deviation tests showed differences between the two bacteria, but patient serum results were inconclusive for Bordet-Gengou bacillus.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides supporting evidence for Bordet-Gengou bacillus as a potential cause of pertussis.
  • While the bacillus's dissemination in nature and occurrence in pertussis are confirmed, distinct new evidence is lacking.
  • Further research on bronchial secretions in other respiratory diseases is recommended.

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