The seroepidemiology of B. pertussis infection in Catalonia, Spain

A survey of the seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies in a representative sample of the population from Catalonia was carried out. Ninety-seven municipalities and 30 schools were randomly selected to recruit the 2126 subjects who participated in the study. A serum sample was obtained from all individuals participating in the study in order to determine levels of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibodies by ELISA test. Sociodemographic data were collected for all subjects. The prevalence of PT antibodies was 75% and that of FHA antibodies 89%. Significant increments were observed with age, both in the prevalence of PT (P < 0.0001) and of FHA (P = 0.018). Of the sociodemographic variables studied, only urban habitat was significantly associated to PT antibodies. The agreement observed among the two types of antibodies studied was weak (K = 0.264). Routine revaccination with the acellular vaccine in children over 7 years of age, in adolescents and adults seems a reasonable strategy to prevent the appearance of cases of pertussis in the community.