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[Duration of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B serotype 2 carrier state]
Z Bencić1, N Kuzmanović, V Amsel
1Medicinskog fakultete, Skola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Stampar".
Abstract:
Of 168 examined secondary school children from Zagreb, Neisseria meningitidis, serogroup B, serotype 2 was isolated from the pharynx smear taken from 14 healthy carriers, aged 15-18. Carriership was observed during the period of 19 months. During that period the pharynx smear was taken four times so that in total there were five samples from each examinee, with the purpose of finding Neisseria. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 was isolated and identified by using the standard microbiological methods. Serogroup and serotype were identified by the slide agglutination method, and were used group and type specific antisera. Of 14 identified carriers two persons had continuous duration of carriership of N. meningitidis, serogroup B, serotype 2 during the period of nineteen months. In 6 persons over the period of 9 months, in all five samples of pharynx smear the same meningococcus was identified. This epidemiological study has determined the longest duration of carriership of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 described so far in the literature. The role of carriership in the occurrence of the meningococcal disease has not been fully explained.
Insights
This study identified Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 in 14 healthy adolescents. It documented the longest carriership duration of this pathogen, lasting up to 19 months.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis.
- Understanding meningococcal carriership is crucial for disease prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and duration of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 carriership in healthy adolescents.
- To determine the longest documented carriership period for this specific meningococcal strain.
Main Methods:
- Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 168 secondary school students in Zagreb.
- Samples were analyzed using standard microbiological methods for Neisseria isolation.
- Serogroup and serotype identification was performed via slide agglutination with specific antisera.
Main Results:
- Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 was isolated from 14 healthy carriers (aged 15-18).
- The study identified a continuous carriership duration of up to 19 months in two individuals.
- Six individuals showed persistent carriage of the same strain over a 9-month period.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the longest duration of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, serotype 2 carriership identified in scientific literature.
- The precise role of prolonged carriership in the epidemiology of meningococcal disease requires further investigation.