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ST2859 serogroup A meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Nouna Health District, Burkina Faso: a prospective study

A Sié1, V Pflüger, B Coulibaly

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Santé de Nouna, Nouna, Burkina Faso.

Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH
|April 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal serogroup A ST2859 caused outbreaks in Burkina Faso. Less virulent serogroup Y ST4375 meningococci in the south may limit serogroup A spread, but concerns remain for future meningitis epidemics.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Meningitis remains a significant public health concern in the African Meningitis Belt.
  • Neisseria meningitidis serogroups, particularly serogroup A, are major causes of epidemic meningitis.
  • Understanding meningococcal epidemiology and clonal dynamics is crucial for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the predominant Neisseria meningitidis serogroups and their genetic characteristics in suspected meningitis cases in Burkina Faso.
  • To investigate the geographical distribution and outbreak potential of different meningococcal clones.
  • To assess the potential impact of existing colonization patterns on the spread of virulent meningococcal strains.

Main Methods:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid samples from suspected meningitis cases were analyzed.
  • Meningococcal isolates were characterized by serogroup and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
  • Geographical distribution and association with outbreaks were investigated.

Main Results:

  • Serogroup A ST2859, belonging to subgroup III ST5 clonal complex, was the predominant cause of meningitis.
  • ST2859 was associated with focal outbreaks in the northern Nouna Health District.
  • Serogroup Y ST4375 meningococci colonized the southern population, associated with sporadic meningitis cases.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified ST2859 as a significant meningococcal clone responsible for outbreaks in Burkina Faso.
  • The presence of serogroup Y ST4375 in the south may act as a barrier to the spread of the more virulent serogroup A ST2859.
  • There is a continued concern for potential future waves of subgroup III meningococcal disease in the African Meningitis Belt.

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