Bordetella

Bordetella is a genus of bacteria. The bacteria belonging to this genus will be Brothels called. The best-known pathogen of the bacterial group is Bordetella pertussis.

What are Bordetella?

The first bacteria from the genus Bordetella were isolated in 1906 by the microbiologists Octave Gengou and Jules Bordet. The group was not established until 1952 by Manuel Moreno Lopez. The genus, however, was named after Jules Bordet.

Bordetelles are gram-negative bacteria. They can be colored red in the Gram stain. In contrast to the gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria have an additional outer cell envelope. The distinction between gram-positive and gram-negative plays an important role in therapy when choosing the right antibiotic.

The short, rod-shaped bacteria grow aerobically. This means that the brothels need oxygen to live. They implement this in the energy metabolism. Bordetella petrii is an exception. This bacterium can also grow anaerobically. Bordetelles multiply especially in the temperature range from 30 to 37 ° C. The bacteria are asaccharolytic, so they cannot use sugar, but use citrate as an energy source.

Almost all Bordetalla species are parasitic. Preferred hosts are humans, birds, and other animals. Some of the Bordetellen are known pathogens. This includes, for example, Bordetella pertussis. Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough. Currently, the Bordetella avium, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bordetella hinzii, Bordetella holmesii, Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella petrii, Bordetella trematum and Bordetella pertussis species belong to the Bordetelles group, many of which are of importance in veterinary medicine. The bacteria Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetelle bronchiseptica are called classic Bordetellen. They are genetically very closely related, so that they are sometimes classified as subspecies of the same bacterial species.

Occurrence, Distribution & Properties

Brothels occur worldwide. Pertussis (whooping cough), caused by the pathogens Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis, occurs all year round. However, there are more cases of the disease in autumn and winter. Humans are the only pathogen reservoir for Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis. The pathogens are also found in sheep. The other bacteria from the group of brothels are also found in birds and other mammals.

Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis are highly contagious. The infection takes place via droplet infection. Through close contact with infectious people, large contaminated droplets are transmitted within a distance of up to one and a half meters through sneezing, coughing, or speaking. Infectivity begins at the end of the incubation period, which usually lasts between nine and ten days. However, spans of six to twenty days are also known. Infectiousness can last for several months.

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Illnesses & ailments

Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis cause whooping cough (pertussis). The disease can be divided into three stages. The first stage, the catarrhal stage, lasts between one and two weeks. Those infected develop flu-like symptoms such as a slight cough, runny nose, tiredness and weakness. There is no or only very slight fever.

The second stage is also called the convulsive stage. It lasts between four and six weeks and is characterized by the typical whooping cough. This strong cough, which occurs at times, is also known as a staccato cough. The coughing is followed by what is known as an inspiratory pull. Those affected try to breathe against the closed epiglottis at the end of the attack. This creates wheezing noises.

As part of the coughing fits, the sick often choke up tough mucus. The coughing attacks can also be accompanied by vomiting. The cough occurs frequently at night. Many attacks can occur during the day. Even at this stage, fever is only very weak or completely absent. If there is a higher fever, this can be interpreted as an indication of a secondary bacterial infection. No antitussive drugs help against the cough associated with whooping cough.

The last stage is the stage decrementi. It can take up to ten weeks. At this stage, the coughing fits will slowly subside. In adults or adolescents, whooping cough often takes the form of a long-lasting cough. The typical staccato cough attacks are sometimes completely absent.

A different clinical picture also appears in infants. Unfortunately, infants and very young children are more likely to have sneezing attacks. These are not infrequently accompanied by apneas. Infants are also at a very high risk of serious complications. The most common and at the same time most dangerous complication is pneumonia. It is usually triggered by a superinfection with Haemophilus influenzae. Further complications are otitis media, sinus infections, incontinence and hernias, which are caused by the high pressure of coughing fits. Rib fractures and bleeding in the conjunctiva and even the brain can also occur.

Antibiotic therapy does not affect the severity and duration of the coughing attacks in the case of an infection with Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis. This is because the antibiotics are usually given too late and the respiratory epithelium has already been damaged too much by the bacteria. Antibiotics are only used as long as the patient is still eliminating Bordetellen.

Various vaccines are available in Germany for the prophylaxis of whooping cough. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) provides for vaccination against whooping cough for the second month of life. Another vaccination takes place between the 11th and 14th month of life.