Circulation of pertussis and poor protection against diphtheria among middle-aged adults in 18 European countries

Nat Commun. 2021 May 17;12(1):2871. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23114-y.

Abstract

Reported incidence of pertussis in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) varies and may not reflect the real situation, while vaccine-induced protection against diphtheria and tetanus seems sufficient. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of DTP antibodies in EU/EEA countries within the age groups of 40-49 and 50-59 years. Eighteen countries collected around 500 samples between 2015 and 2018 (N = 10,302) which were analysed for IgG-DTP specific antibodies. The proportion of sera with pertussis toxin antibody levels ≥100 IU/mL, indicative of recent exposure to pertussis was comparable for 13/18 countries, ranging between 2.7-5.8%. For diphtheria the proportion of sera lacking the protective level (<0.1 IU/mL) varied between 22.8-82.0%. For tetanus the protection was sufficient. Here, we report that the seroprevalence of pertussis in these age groups indicates circulation of B. pertussis across EU/EEA while the lack of vaccine-induced seroprotection against diphtheria is of concern and deserves further attention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bordetella pertussis / drug effects
  • Bordetella pertussis / immunology
  • Bordetella pertussis / physiology
  • Diphtheria / epidemiology*
  • Diphtheria / immunology
  • Diphtheria / prevention & control
  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / immunology
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Tetanus / epidemiology*
  • Tetanus / immunology
  • Tetanus / prevention & control
  • Whooping Cough / epidemiology*
  • Whooping Cough / immunology
  • Whooping Cough / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine
  • Immunoglobulin G