Bordetella pertussis is the causative organism for whooping cough, which affects only humans. In general, Bordetella are small, coccoid Gram-negative rods (see figure). The pathogens are transmitted by aerosol droplets. Sources of infection are infected persons during the catarrhal phase, who cough out. The bacteria are able to attach themselves to the cells of the ciliated epithelium in the bronchi. They rarely invade the epithelium. The infection results in (sub-) epithelial inflammations and necroses. The onset of whooping cough develops after an incubation period of 1-3 weeks in three phases (see the table below).Pertussis occurs worldwide. In Africa for example Bordetella pertussis is - besides the measles virus - mainly responsible for the high lethality during the first years of life. Especially children, who visit the kinder garden, give currency to the pathogens also patients with sub clinical experience. Beside it adults, who vaccinated as children, have little or no residual immunity and fall sick.
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