The seroepidemiology of B-pertussis infection in Catalonia, Spain

A survey of the seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies in a representative sample of the population from Catalonia was carried out. Ninety-seven munic ipalities: and 30 schools were randomly selected to recruit the 2126 subjec ts who participated in the study. A serum sample was obtained from all indi viduals participating in the study in order to determine levels of pertussi s toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibodies by ELISA test. Sociodemographic data were collected for all subjects. The prevalence of PT antibodies was 75 % and that of FHA antibodies 89 %. Significant increment s were observed with age, both in the prevalence of PT (P < 0.0001) and of FHA (P = 0.018). Of the sociodemographic variables studied, only urban habi tat was significantly associated to PT antibodies. The agreement observed a mong the two types of antibodies studied was weak (kappa = 0.264). Routine revaccination with the acellular vaccine in children over 7 years of age, i n adolescents and adults seems a reasonable strategy to prevent the appeara nce of cases of pertussis in the community.