Bordetella Species Other than Bordetella pertussis

Most clinicians and microbiologists are familiar with Bordetella pertussis, its associated clinical syndromes and treatment with antimicrobials, and both biochemical and molecular methods for identification. Many of the other Bordetella species are much less well known, though they do cause clinical disease in humans. Some, like Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetella holmesii, are common causes of respiratory disease (albeit mild) in individuals with no significant comorbidities; others, such as Bordetella trematum and Bordetella ansorpii, have been noted to cause disease only rarely, and always in immunocompromised hosts. The article outlines the clinical presentation, treatment, and laboratory diagnosis of Bordetella species associated with human infections by Bordetella species other than B. pertussis.