Multi-locus sequence type analysis of Shigellas pp. isolates from Tehran, Iran.
Shadi Shahsavan1, Maliheh Nobakht2, Abdolaziz Rastegar-Lari3
1Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Rasul-e-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Iranian Journal of Microbiology
|February 3, 2017
Summary
Multidrug-resistant Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri strains were analyzed using Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) in Tehran. ST152 was the most frequent and founder type, aiding in understanding local epidemiology and potential source tracking.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Shigellosis, caused by Shigella spp., is a significant global public health concern.
- Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shigella strains pose a particular challenge in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the population structure and genetic relatedness of MDR Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri.
- To analyze isolates from children with diarrhea in Tehran, Iran, over a one-year period.
Main Methods:
- Conventional biochemical and serological methods confirmed bacterial identification.
- Molecular methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed on 20 MDR Shigella isolates.
- Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) was employed for subtyping the isolates.
Main Results:
- Fourteen Shigella sonnei and six Shigella flexneri isolates were identified.
- MLST revealed five distinct sequence types (STs): 145, 152, 241, 245, and 1502.
- ST152 was the most frequent (9 isolates) and identified as the founder type by BURST analysis; ST145 and ST245 were associated with Shigella flexneri.
Conclusions:
- Annual MLST of MDR Shigella provides insights into dominant species and facilitates comparisons with international studies.
- This approach aids in epidemiological surveillance and source tracking of Shigella infections.
