Capsular switching in invasive Neisseria meningitidis, Brazil(1)

Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Aug;18(8):1336-8. doi: 10.3201/eid1808.111344.

Abstract

During the 1990s, an epidemic of B:4 Neisseria meningitidis infections affected Brazil. Subsequent increase in C:4 disease suggested B → C capsular switching. This study identified B → C switches within the sequence type 32 complex. Substantial disease related to capsular switching emphasizes the need for surveillance of circulating meningococcal strains to optimize disease control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antigenic Variation / genetics*
  • Bacterial Capsules / genetics*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epidemics*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / genetics*
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Serotyping
  • Young Adult