Bordet‐Gengou agar medium supplemented with albumin‐containing biologics for cultivation of bordetellae

Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica cause respiratory infections in mammals, including humans, and are generally cultivated on Bordet‐Gengou (BG) agar plates in laboratories. The medium requires animal blood as a supplement for better bacterial growth. However, using blood is problematic, as its constant supply is occasionally difficult because of the limited shelf‐life. This study proposes modified BG agar plates supplemented with bovine serum albumin and fetal bovine serum as a simple and convenient medium that confers sufficient growth of bordetellae.