Journal
APMIS
Volume 113, Issue 3, Pages 182-186Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2005.apm1130305.x
Keywords
Neisseria meningitides; meningococcus; meningococcal meningitis; multilocus sequence typing; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; molecular epidemiology; sequence type; clonal complex; serogroup W135
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In 2000 the global outbreak that began in Saudi Arabia was caused by a W135:2a:P1.5,2 strain of Neisseria meningitidis belonging to the ET-37 complex and to ST-11. There was concern that introduction of this epidemic clone (EC) might lead to a wave of outbreaks in the African meningitis belt, The WHO therefore initiated studies of meningococcal carriage among pilgrims and their family contacts in Morocco, Oman and Sudan, 3 to 12 months after the Hajj 2000. In Morocco, 1186 persons were swabbed 3 times. Ninety-five meningococcal strains were isolated from 2.7% of the specimens. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that 32 (33.6%) were identical with the EC. In Sudan, 5 strains identical with the EC were obtained after sampling 285 persons. In Oman, among 18 meningococcal strains isolated from 399 Subjects, 11 (61.1%) belonged to the EC. The important pharyngeal carriage of W135 (EC) and its role in the 2001-2002 outbreaks in Burkina. Faso argues for the necessity of reinforcing surveillance, and adapting and planning responses in Africa and the Middle East using the most appropriate vaccine.
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