NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In the U.S., the proportion of Bordetella pertussis isolates lacking pertactin, a component of acellular pertussis vaccines, has risen dramatically in recent years, but this doesn't appear to have had an impact on vaccine effectiveness, new research suggests.
"Our findings suggest that both acellular pertussis vaccines remain protective against reported pertussis disease in the setting of high pertactin deficiency," Dr. Lucy Breakwell from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues report in Pediatrics April 12.
"We feel these findings are reassuring given the recently demonstrated genetic changes in the bacteria. Since 2010, we've seen a rapid increase in the number of whooping cough cases caused by a new strain of the bacteria in the United States. Our study shows that despite these changes in the bacteria, the whooping cough vaccines continue to be effective," Dr. Breakwell added in email to Reuters Health.
The proportion of Bordetella pertussis isolates lacking pertactin jumped from 14% in 2010 to 85% in 2012.
She added, "It's important to remember that children who haven't received any DTaP vaccines are at least 8 times more likely to get whooping cough than children who received all five recommended doses of DTaP. Also, people who have received at least one dose of whooping cough vaccine are also much more likely to have a mild illness compared to those who never received the vaccine."
The researchers say further study is needed to better understand the implications of pertactin deficiency on pertussis pathogenesis and host immunologic response, "which could provide insight into the development of novel pertussis vaccines."
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