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Molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Shigella dysenteriae type 1 causing dysentery outbreaks in Central

Raymond Bercion1, Marie Demartin, Carlos Recio

  • 1Institut Pasteur de Bangui, BP 923, Bangui, Central African Republic.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|May 17, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1) outbreaks in the Central African Republic showed multidrug resistance but remained susceptible to fluoroquinolones. Molecular subtyping revealed distinct clones responsible for the outbreaks, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1) poses a significant threat in developing nations due to severe infections and epidemic potential.
  • Dysentery outbreaks, characterized by bloody diarrhea, necessitate understanding pathogen characteristics and transmission dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular subtypes of Sd1 isolates from Central African Republic (CAR) dysentery outbreaks.
  • To compare molecular subtyping methods (PFGE and PP) for Sd1 and assess genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Sd1 isolates.
  • Molecular subtyping utilized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with XbaI and NotI enzymes and plasmid profiling (PP).
  • Isolates from two CAR outbreaks (2003-2004) and comparison strains (1993-2003) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Sd1 isolates from CAR outbreaks exhibited multidrug resistance but remained susceptible to quinolones and fluoroquinolones.
  • PFGE provided higher discriminatory power than PP, identifying two distinct clones responsible for the outbreaks.
  • PFGE revealed genetic diversity among comparison strains isolated between 1993 and 2003.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified distinct Sd1 clones causing dysentery outbreaks in CAR, emphasizing the utility of PFGE for molecular epidemiology.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns indicate fluoroquinolones as potential treatment options, but ongoing monitoring is crucial.
  • Established collaboration provides a foundation for long-term Sd1 surveillance in CAR.

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