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Published on: September 11, 2020
Characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from India with special reference to their sequence types
Malini Shariff1, Jyoti Choudhary, Shazia Zahoor
1Department of Microbiology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India . malini.shariff@gmail.com
Insights
This study identified key Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in India, with many not covered by current vaccines. An updated vaccine is crucial for effective disease prevention in the region.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant mortality and morbidity, particularly in vulnerable populations.
- Pneumococcal infections pose a substantial global health burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize antimicrobial susceptibilities, serotypes, and sequence types of pneumococcal isolates from New Delhi, India.
- To inform public health strategies and vaccine development for Streptococcus pneumoniae in the region.
Main Methods:
- Disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- Serotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for isolate characterization.
Main Results:
- High resistance rates observed: 5% to penicillin, 20% to erythromycin, and 23% to ciprofloxacin.
- Predominant serotypes included 19, 1, and 6; 30% of isolates belonged to non-seven-valent vaccine serotypes (1, 3, 5, 19A, 7F).
- MLST revealed significant genetic diversity with 30 new sequence types (STs) and 11 clonal complexes among 115 Indian isolates; only 4 STs were globally prevalent.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the circulation of non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in India.
- An appropriate vaccine covering prevalent local serotypes is essential for effective disease control in the region.
Introduction:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in young children and the elderly. In the present study we evaluated antimicrobial susceptibilities, serotypes, and sequence types of pneumococcal isolates recovered in New Delhi, India.
Methodology:
A total of 126 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were investigated. They were subjected to disk diffusion susceptibility testing, broth microdilution testing, serotyping and multilocus sequence typing.
Results:
Broth microdilution assay showed that 5%, 20% and 23% of the isolates exhibited resistance to penicillin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Serotypes19, 1 and 6 were more frequently isolated. Thirty per cent of the strains were comprised of serotypes 1, 3, 5, 19A and 7F, which are not included in the seven-valent vaccine. Fifty-nine isolates were typed using multilocus sequence typing. Thirty new sequence types were encountered in this study. Only one clonal complex with 4 isolates was seen; 11 clonal complexes and 96 sequence types (STs) were observed among 115 Indian isolates. Only 18 of the 96 STs were found globally, of which only 4 STs were found in many countries with larger numbers.
Conclusions:
This study identifies the non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae circulating in India. It is important that an appropriate vaccine which covers all serotypes is used in the region.
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