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Cluster analysis of Neisseria meningitidis type 22 strains isolated in Poland

W Grzybowska1, S Tyski, L Berthelsen

  • 1Department of Antibiotics and Microbiology, Drug Institute, Warsaw, Poland.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|June 12, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Genetic analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serotype 22 strains in Poland revealed distinct groupings via serosubtyping and genotyping. Penicillin susceptibility testing showed some strains had reduced or resistant profiles.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis serotype 22 strains were frequently isolated from severe meningitis and septicaemia cases in Poland between 1995 and 1998.
  • Phenotypic characterization of meningococcal strains has been conducted since 1995.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic relationships among Neisseria meningitidis serotype 22 strains recovered in Poland.
  • To compare different genotyping methods for clustering these strains.

Main Methods:

  • Serosubtyping of Neisseria meningitidis strains.
  • DNA analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotyping.
  • Determination of penicillin susceptibility (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration - MIC).

Main Results:

  • Serosubtyping produced different strain groupings compared to PFGE and ribotyping.
  • PFGE and ribotyping seldom identified the same clusters.
  • No distinct clusters were identified among strains from five different cities.
  • One Neisseria meningitidis strain showed penicillin resistance (MIC, 2 mg/l), and one-third exhibited reduced susceptibility (MIC range, 0.1-1 mg/l).

Conclusions:

  • Serosubtyping and molecular genotyping methods (PFGE, ribotyping) provide disparate views of Neisseria meningitidis serotype 22 genetic relatedness.
  • The genetic diversity and penicillin susceptibility patterns of these strains warrant further investigation.

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