Final answer:
The incubation period for Bordetella pertussis is 7-10 days. It is a highly contagious bacterium that can be transmitted before symptoms appear. Diagnosis can be done through laboratory testing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The incubation period for Bordetella pertussis is usually 7-10 days, but can range from 5-21 days. This is the time between the initial infection with the bacteria and the first appearance of symptoms. During this period, the bacteria multiply and spread in the respiratory tract.
B. pertussis is highly contagious and can be transmitted through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is important to note that individuals infected with B. pertussis can be contagious during the incubation period, before the onset of symptoms.
Diagnosing B. pertussis can be done through laboratory testing, such as culturing the organism from a nasopharyngeal (NP) specimen, or using PCR techniques for later stages of infection.