Abstract
There was an outbreak of Bordetella parapertussis in a institute for severely handicapped . 39 of 58 instituted people, mean age 41.2 years, presented with either fever or cough, and in 2 of the cases, the infection progressed to pneumonia. Five cases were detected on the 4th day, but the number of patients increased rapidly to 30 on the 10th day. Five patients were examined and diagnosed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification on the 22nd day because a rise in serum antibodies against the fimbriae of Bordetella pertussis was noted in some patients. No new cases were detected after preventive treatment with antimicrobial agents was initiated, and the outbreak was controlled. One patient showed a high titer of serum antibody to anti-pertussis toxin. But no rise in this antibody was noted after parapertussis infection because Bordetella parapertussis cannot produce the pertussis toxin. Moreover, no patients showed a rise in antibody titer against filamentous hemagglutinin. Serological diagnosis appears to be difficult in the case of parapertussis infection. It is important to be aware of this disease, and the PCR examination is recommended during an outbreak of infection in which patient presents with respiratory tract symptoms.
