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Molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of meningococcal disease in a university community
M B Edmond1, R J Hollis, A K Houston
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.
Abstract:
Over a 2-month period, five cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease occurred in Iowa City, Iowa. Two patients were unacquainted university students who had independently visited another university with endemic meningococcal disease. Isolates from these patients had DNA fingerprints identical to those of the isolates responsible for infections on the other campus. Three cases for which the patients' isolates had a different DNA fingerprint were linked to visiting a local tavern. To disrupt the outbreak, the University of Iowa offered free meningococcal vaccine to all students. This report demonstrates that outbreaks of meningococcal disease may be due to more than one circulating strain and illustrates the utility of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in defining the molecular epidemiology of meningococcal infections.
Insights
Meningococcal disease outbreaks can involve multiple strains, as seen in Iowa City. DNA fingerprinting helped identify distinct bacterial strains linked to different transmission routes, aiding outbreak control.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Serogroup C meningococcal disease poses a significant public health risk.
- University settings are susceptible to outbreaks due to close contact.
- Early identification of causative strains is crucial for effective control.
Observation:
- Five cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease occurred in Iowa City over two months.
- Two student cases were linked to independent travel to a university with endemic disease.
- Three other cases were associated with a local tavern.
Findings:
- DNA fingerprinting revealed two distinct strains of *Neisseria meningitidis*.
- One strain matched isolates from the university visited by the first two patients.
- The second strain, found in tavern-linked cases, was genetically different.
Implications:
- Outbreaks can be driven by multiple, concurrently circulating strains.
- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a valuable tool for molecular epidemiology.
- Understanding strain diversity is essential for targeted public health interventions and vaccination strategies.