Serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis of clone III-1 present in western Norway as early as 1969-73.
A clone of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis recognized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and designated as clone III-1, has caused major epidemics of meningococcal disease in various parts of the world since the 1970s. In Norway, serogroup B meningococci have been responsible for an epidemic since the mid-1970s. We have studied a sample of 53 meningococci isolated from patients in western Norway prior to the serogroup B epidemic. 22/35 meningococcal isolates collected 1969-73 represented clone III-1, whereas this clone was not found in the 18 isolates from 1962-68. It has been speculated that the epidemic of meningococcal disease in Finland caused by clone III-1 in 1973-75 had spread from an epidemic in USSR that began in 1969. Our findings demonstrate, however, that the clone III-1 was present in Scandinavia in 1969.
Hjetland
R
R
Department of Microbiology, Gade Institute, Haukeland Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Caugant
D A
DA
Hofstad
T
T
Frøholm
L O
LO
Selander
R K
RK
D002999:Clone Cells; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors