Pertussis among patients with clinically compatible illness in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Solomon Taye; Zemene Tigabu; Debasu Damtie; Gizachew Yismaw; Clinton Moodley; Mark P Nicol; Belay Tessema; Baye Gelaw; Feleke Moges

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.073

Pertussis among patients with clinically compatible illness in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Int J Infect Dis. 2021 May:106:421-428. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.073. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Authors

Solomon Taye¹, Zemene Tigabu², Debasu Damtie³, Gizachew Yismaw⁴, Clinton Moodley⁵, Mark P Nicol⁶, Belay Tessema⁴, Baye Gelaw⁴, Feleke Moges⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia; Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: tayesolomon38@gmail.com.
² Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia; The Ohio State University Global One Health LLC, Eastern Africa Regional Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.
⁵ Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁶ Division of Infection and Immunity, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

PMID: 33794378
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.073

Abstract

Background: Pertussis is an acute respiratory tract disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. In 2014, 24.1 million pertussis cases, resulting in 160,700 deaths, were estimated to have occurred worldwide. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of pertussis among patients with clinically compatible illness who visited selected hospitals in the Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to review pertussis patients with clinically compatible illness. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 515 patients from July 2018 through February 2019. DNA was extracted from all nasopharyngeal swabs and samples were analyzed using real-time (RT-) PCR. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis, respectively.

Results: The overall prevalence of Bordetella species among the study participants was 156 of 515 (30.3%) [95% CI = 26.4-34.6] as determined by Bordetella RT-PCR, including: 65 (41.7%) B. pertussis, 89 (57.1%) indeterminate B. pertussis, one (0.6%) Bordetella holmesii and one (0.6%) Bordetella parapertussis.

Conclusions: This study found that pertussis is potentially endemic and a common health problem among patients visiting health institutions in the Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. More data regarding pertussis in Ethiopia could inform development of effective prevention strategies.

Keywords: Amhara Regional State; Bordetella pertussis; Bordetella species; Ethiopia; Pertussis; Prevalence.

MeSH terms

Adult
Bordetella pertussis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Ethiopia / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
Whooping Cough / epidemiology*