title: Epidemiology of gonorrhoea: serogroup, antibiotic susceptibility and auxotype patterns of consecutive gonococcal isolates from ten different areas of Sweden.
abstract: Consecutively isolated gonococcal strains from 10 representative geographical areas in Sweden were serogrouped according to the previously described W antigen class. The majority of the strains were antibiotic susceptibility tested and approximately one fourth of them were auxotyped. Statistically significant differences of the serogroup patterns were demonstrated between the 2 largest towns, which represented highly urbanized areas where serogroup W II dominated, and the middle sized towns with adjoining rural districts, where serogroup W I dominated. The serogroup patterns of the strains isolated in 3 university towns were representative for Sweden as a whole. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between urban and rural areas with regard to the susceptibility of gonococci to beta-lactam antibiotics. About 95% of serogroup W I strains were highly sensitive to ampicillin whereas about 65% and 90% of W II and W III strains, respectively, showed decreased susceptibility. The majority of the auxotyped strains belonged to 4 main types: Pro-, Pro-Arg-Ura-, AHU- and prototrophic. The majority of the AHU- strains belonged to serogroup W I and were highly susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics and tetracycline. Many of the Pro-Arg-Ura-strains belonged to 2 particular subserogroups within serogroup W II and showed increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Serological classification of gonococci by co-agglutination is a simple and rapid technique without need of special equipment. It could serve 2 purposes: 1) as a confirmation test for gonococci cultured from clinical specimens; 2) for serogrouping of gonococcal isolates to study the epidemiology of gonorrhoea with regard to geographical areas, race, sexual preference, treatment failure and other demographic and medical factors.
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011156:Population Density; D012703:Serotyping; D000198:Spectinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013548:Sweden; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; D000198:Spectinomycin; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D004318:Doxycycline; D013307:Streptomycin