Bordetella /bôr′ditel″ə/ [Jules J.B.V. Bordet, Belgian bacteriologist, 1870–1961] , a genus of gram-negative coccobacilli, some species of which are pathogens of the respiratory tract of humans, including Bordetella bronchiseptica; B. parapertussis, which causes mild pharyngitis; and B. pertussis, the causative agent of pertussis. See also parapertussis, pertussis.
