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Two closely related strains associated with pertussis resurgence in Israel

Bahaa Abu Raya1, Ellen Bamberger, Gilad Spiegel

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Bnai Zion Medical Center, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. baha_aboraya@yahoo.com

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|March 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Two Bordetella pertussis strains dominated Israeli pertussis epidemics from 2007-2008, with one strain matching the common European BpSR11 strain. This highlights shared pertussis epidemiology across regions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Pertussis remains a significant public health concern globally.
  • Understanding the genetic diversity and evolution of Bordetella pertussis is crucial for effective control strategies.
  • Previous studies have tracked Bordetella pertussis strains in Europe, but regional data from other areas are essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the genetic profiles of Bordetella pertussis strains circulating in Israel during the 2007-2008 pertussis epidemic.
  • To compare Israeli strains with previously identified European strains to understand potential epidemiological links.

Main Methods:

  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was employed to analyze the genomic DNA of 82 Bordetella pertussis isolates.
  • Isolates were collected from the epidemic years 2007 and 2008 in Israel.
  • PFGE profiles were compared to those from the EU Pertstrain II project.

Main Results:

  • Analysis revealed four distinct Bordetella pertussis strains, with two closely related strains accounting for 95% of isolates.
  • The most prevalent Israeli strain belonged to the same PFGE cluster (IVβ) as the dominant European BpSR11 strain.
  • This dominant strain was identified in the 1999-2004 EU Pertstrain II project, indicating sustained circulation.

Conclusions:

  • A limited number of Bordetella pertussis strains were responsible for the majority of infections in Israel during 2007-2008.
  • The genetic similarity between the dominant Israeli and European strains suggests potential cross-border transmission or shared evolutionary pressures.
  • Continued molecular surveillance is necessary to monitor pertussis epidemiology and inform vaccination strategies.

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