Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia
The analysis of pertussis morbidity on the background of systematic immunization of children with adsorbed DPT vaccine is updated. The growth of pertussis morbidity among adolescents and adults was registered. The most promising hypothesis on the antigenic drift of Bordetella pertussis is discussed. In the presence of the described antigenic changes, in 1996—2000 a rise in morbidity in comparison with that of 1980—1982 was registered. Changes in the protective antigens of the newly isolated strains were quite essential. It was, probably, for this reason that pertussis vaccines prepared from “old” strains proved to be ineffective. The conclusion was made on the necessity of constant surveillance on the protective antigens profile in circulating strains and the use of strains with the most topical set of antigens for the production of pertussis vaccines.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2003, No. 6, P. 70—73