Transient reemergence of Bordetella parapertussis in France in 2022

Abstract

Between March and October 2022, a peak of detection of Bordetella parapertussis by qPCR, real-time PCR was observed in France. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Whether this peak was due to resurgence from previous circulating lineages or reintroduction into the country was unknown. Objective. The objective of this study is to understand B. parapertussis-transient increase observed in France in 2022 whereas it had virtually stopped being reported since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Methods. We analysed real-time PCR (qPCR) data from the two largest French outpatient laboratories performing whooping cough diagnosis and characterized all B. parapertussis isolates collected in the 2016–2022 period by the French National Reference Centre for Whooping Cough. Results. Microbiological analyses reveal that 13 of 18 bacterial isolates collected in 2022 produce the vaccine antigen pertactin, whereas none of the 22 isolates collected in the 2016–2021 period did. Conclusion. We hypothesize a re-introduction of B. parapertussis from regions of the world where whole-cell vaccines are still in use.