Serotyping Bordetella pertussis strains

The serotyping scheme for Bordetella pertussis, developed in the 1950s, depends on the presence or absence of various strains of three major agglutinogens, two of which have been shown to be fimbrial proteins, and several minor agglutinogens, the biochemical nature of which is unknown. This article reviews the reasons for the confusion which has recently arisen over the nomenclature of the serotype antigens and proposes a simplified serotyping scheme based on the fimbrial components.