BORDETELLA

Question 1

What are the bordetella sp.?

Answer 1

• small gm. - coccobacilli
  
  • aerobic or microaerophilic
  • very slow growth
• colonizes upper respiratory tract of adults
  
  • humans only known reservoir
  • carried and spread by older adults
  • causes of pertussis or whooping cough

Question 2

What are the virulence factors of bordetella?

Answer 2

-attaches to ciliated epithelial cells
* filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA)
~binds to host amino acids
* fimbriae and pert actin
~play important role in adherence to mucosal surfaces
-pertussis toxin
*paralyzes cilia
*induces inflammation
-don’t invade epithelial cells
* recently found inside alveolar macrophage

Question 3

What is pertussis?

Answer 3

• 7-10 day incubation period
• catarrhal stage: 1-2 weeks
  
  • cold-like symptoms
  • gradually increasing cough severity
• paroxysmal stage: 1-6 weeks
  
  • paroxysms - fits of numerous rapid coughs
  • vomiting and exhaustion common following episode
• convalescent stage: 2 to 3 weeks
  
  • gradual recovery and reduction of symptoms
  • subsequent infections can re-exacerbate paroxysms

Question 4

What’s the pertussis vaccination?

Answer 4

• whole-cell pertussis vaccine (1930’s -1940s)
  
  • little protection after 5-10 days post- vaccination
• acellular pertussis vaccine
  
  • purified inactive cellular components
  • multiple compositions based on age-group
  • only available in combination with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
  • DTaP: infants
  • Tdap: 10+ yr