[Use of multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for the study of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis isolates from Casablanca (Morocco)]

Pathol Biol (Paris). 2006 Apr;54(3):166-70. doi: 10.1016/j.patbio.2005.09.002. Epub 2006 Jan 25.
[Article in French]

Abstract

A previous study showed that B:4:P1.15 was the most frequent phenotype of Neisseria meningitidis isolated in Casablanca (Morocco). To determine if there was an epidemic clone, MLST and PFGE were used to compare 13 B:4:P1.15 strains isolated from September 1999 to December 2000. MLST showed 4 Sequence Types (ST): ST-33 was the most frequent ST (9/13 strains) and 4 strains belonged to 3 newly described STs. Twelve stains belonged to ST-32 complex, and one strain presenting a new ST (ST-2502) did not belong to any known ST complex. The analysis by PFGE showed that the strains were subdivided into 7 clusters, and that there was no epidemic clone. MLST is useful for long-term epidemiological studies on N. meningitidis strains from varied geographical origins. PFGE seemed to be well adapted to the comparison of a small number of strains isolated during a short period within a defined community.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Morocco
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / genetics*
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / isolation & purification
  • Phenotype
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Skin / microbiology