molecular detection of bordetella holmesii in two infants with pertussis-like syndrome: the first report from iran

Background and objectives: bordetella holmesii is associated with a pertussis-like respiratory syndrome in healthy individuals and also a rare cause of septicaemia, endocarditis, pneumonia, and septic arthritis, mostly in immunocompromised patients. culture technique and real-time pcr are 2 methods used to detect bordetella spp. materials and methods: in this study, 435 nasopharyngeal specimens of patients with suspected whooping cough were checked for the presence of b. holmesii using 2 methods of culture technique and real-time pcr. results: in this study, we detected his1001 and is481 of b. holmesii in 2 infants suspected of having pertussis-like syndrome. conclusion: our observations demonstrate that accurate diagnosis is needed to discriminate between b. holmesii and b. pertussis infections among pertussis cases; otherwise, it could lead to misestimating pertussis rate and vaccine efficacy.