Genome characteristics of isolates from Tunisia.

The recent increase in pertussis cases observed in some countries may have several causes, including the evolution of populations towards escape of vaccine-induced immunity. Most genomic studies of isolates performed so far are from countries that use acellular vaccines. The objective was to analyse genomic sequences of isolates collected during the 2014 whooping cough epidemic in Tunisia, a country where whole-cell vaccines are used.

Pertussis epidemiology in Tunisian infants and children and characterization of Bordetella pertussis isolates: results of a 9-year surveillance study, 2007 to 2016.

Purpose: Pertussis remains a public health concern in most countries. Our study aimed to prospectively explore the epidemiology of pertussis in the Tunis area of Tunisia between 2007 and 2016, and to characterize the virulence-associated genes of the collected Bordetella pertussis isolates.

Methodology: Infants and children hospitalized at the Children's Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia, between 2007 and 2016 for suspicion of pertussis were enrolled in the study.

Seroprevalence of pertussis among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study from Tunisia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess pertussis seroprevalence among healthy healthcare workers (HCW) of the Children's Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia. During the study period, 236 blood samples were obtained to determine HCW exposure to pertussis. Concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to pertussis toxin (PT) were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.