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Serological diagnosis of pertussis: evaluation of IgA against whole cell and specific Bordetella pertussis antigens as markers of recent infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2002

I. M. POYNTEN ,
M. HANLON ,
L. IRWIG  and
G. L. GILBERT
I. M. POYNTEN
Affiliation:
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
M. HANLON
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, New Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
L. IRWIG
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia
G. L. GILBERT
Affiliation:
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Abstract

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In Australia, notification of pertussis cases in older children or adults has increased significantly in recent years. In most cases, laboratory diagnosis is based only on a positive serological test for IgA antibody against whole cell Bordetella pertussis. During a 3-month period, 318 consecutive sera submitted for diagnosis of pertussis were tested for IgA antibody against whole cell (WC) sonicated B. pertussis, pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) and pertactin (PRN). Results of one or more of these tests were positive in sera from 175 subjects and clinical information was obtained by telephone interview from 90 subjects. Using a clinical case definition as the reference standard, the sensitivities of the four IgA assays were variable but quite low (24–64%), but the specificities were high (93–98%). For diagnosis of pertussis in subjects with a compatible clinical illness, these and other findings support the use of serological testing for IgA antibody.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 128 , Issue 2 , April 2002 , pp. 161 - 167
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press