BSCI 424 — PATHOGENIC MICROBIOLOGY — Fall 2000

Bordetella Summary

Bordetella pertussis

  Extremely small, Gram-negative coccobacilli

(see WebLinked image; B. holmesii WebLinked image)

  Obligate aerobes

  Highly communicable (highly infectious)

  Person-to-person spread via inhalation of infectious aerosols

  Man is only natural host; Obligate parasites of man

  Multiply among cilia of epithelial cells

  Three distinct stages of disease:

1. catarrhal
2. paroxysmal
3. convalescent

  Produce filamentous hemagglutinin and classic A-B exotoxin and other toxins

  Classical A-B exotoxin has three distinct activities:

1. histamine sensitizing factor
2. lymphocytosis promoting factor
3. islet activating protein

  Isolated on modified Bordet-Gengou agar

  Treatment: erythromycin, suction, oxygen

  Inactivated whole bacterial cells and toxoid are prepared in formalin for inclusion in DPT vaccine

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