Increase in meningococcal disease associated with the emergence of a novel ST-11 variant of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis in Victoria, Australia, 1999-2000

Epidemiol Infect. 2002 Feb;128(1):7-14. doi: 10.1017/s0950268801006343.

Abstract

In the years 1999-2000, there was an increase in the incidence of meningococcal disease in Victoria, largely caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C. This change was associated with a shift in age distribution of cases, with relatively more disease appearing in the 15-29 year age group, and with 40/58 serogroup C isolates in 2000 exhibiting a new macrorestriction pattern (pattern A). Thirty-four of 52 pattern A isolates tested displayed the novel phenotype C:2a:P1.4, and were consistently porA VR type P1.7-2,4 by DNA sequencing. Nine of 10 representative pattern A isolates analysed displayed a housekeeping gene allele profile (ST-11) that is characteristic of the electrophoretic type (ET)-15 variant that has caused outbreaks in Canada, the Czech Republic and Greece. Meningococci belonging to the ST-11 complex that were isolated in Victoria prior to 1999 did not display either restriction pattern A or PorA VR type P1.7-2,4.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / pathogenicity*
  • Phenotype
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Serologic Tests
  • Victoria / epidemiology

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Bacterial