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Haemophilus influenzae in New Zealand: subtyping of isolates from invasive disease using outer membrane protein
G A Saravani1, D R Martin, M T Arriesgado
1New Zealand Communicable Disease Centre, Porirua.
Insights
Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease impacts many children in New Zealand. Outer membrane protein profiling revealed limited diversity among local Hib isolates, suggesting a common source for most infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease poses a significant health risk to young children in New Zealand, with a notable prevalence.
- The disease can lead to severe, long-term handicaps in affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic diversity of local Haemophilus influenzae type b isolates.
- To understand the epidemiology of invasive Hib disease in New Zealand through strain characterization.
Main Methods:
- Outer membrane protein (OMP) profiling was employed to analyze the diversity of 81 Hib isolates.
- A national surveillance program provided the isolates for examination.
Main Results:
- A high degree of similarity was observed, with 86% of Hib isolates exhibiting identical OMP profiles.
- The remaining 11 Hib isolates displayed eight distinct OMP profiles, indicating some variation.
- Non-type b Haemophilus influenzae isolates (n=13) demonstrated greater diversity in OMP patterns compared to Hib.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a predominant clone responsible for most invasive Hib disease in New Zealand.
- Further research into the epidemiology and control of Hib disease is warranted.
- OMP profiling is a valuable tool for tracking bacterial isolate diversity in surveillance programs.
Abstract:
Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease affects one in every 350 New Zealand children by the age of five, leaving some with severe handicap. As part of a national surveillance programme aimed at determining the epidemiology of H influenzae b disease in this country, the diversity of local isolates causing invasive disease was examined using outer membrane protein (OMP) profiling. Of 81 H influenzae b isolates examined, 70 (86%) had identical OMP profiles. Among the other 11 H influenzae b isolates, eight different OMP profiles were observed. Nontype b Haemophilus influenzae isolates (n = 13) showed a greater diversity of OMP patterns.