Seroepidemiology of Bordetella pertussis infections in the Spanish population: a cross-sectional study

A study was conducted on a representative sample (n = 4084) of the Spanish population to assess the prevalence of antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) a nd filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). A total of 1982 men and 2102 women aged 5-59 years were stratified by sex and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-4 9 and 50-59 years). Antibodies to PT were found in 46% samples and to FHA i n 74% and increased with age (p < 0.0001), ranging from 35% in the 5-12 yea r age group to 52% in the 50-59 year age group for anti-PT and from 65 to 8 0% for anti-FHA, respectively. As vaccine induced-immunity wanes over time, the observed age distribution of antibodies suggests that Bordetella pertu ssis infection is widespread in the Spanish population and that pertussis b ooster vaccination in adolescents and adults with the newly developed acell ular vaccines, should be considered if it is deemed necessary to control th e circulation of the organism. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.