Pertussis: relevant species and diagnostic update

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) incidence is increasing globally.
• Factors contributing to the rise include waning vaccine immunity, improved clinical awareness, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
• While Bordetella pertussis is the primary cause, other Bordetella species like B. parapertussis and B. holmesii can cause similar symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic landscape for pertussis.
• To highlight the advantages of molecular diagnostic methods over traditional culture.
• To discuss considerations for differentiating Bordetella species in laboratory testing.

Main Methods:

• Review of current diagnostic techniques for pertussis.
• Analysis of molecular methods, including target selection and performance characteristics.
• Discussion of serological testing utility and standardization needs.

Main Results:

• Molecular diagnostic methods demonstrate superior sensitivity compared to bacterial culture for detecting Bordetella species.
• Various molecular targets exist, each with distinct sensitivities and specificities.
• Serological assays are valuable but require standardization for reliable results.

Conclusions:

• Molecular diagnostics are increasingly preferred for pertussis detection due to enhanced sensitivity.
• Choosing the appropriate molecular assay requires careful consideration of the need for species differentiation.
• Further standardization of serological methods is necessary for accurate pertussis diagnosis.