title: Serotype distribution of meningococci isolated in South Australia 1971 through 1980.
abstract: The serotypes of meningococci isolated from 76 sporadic cases of meningococcal disease in South Australia during the years 1971 through 1980 were determined. Thirty-four (56%) of the 61 group B strains were nontypable; the remainder were of five serotypes namely 8 (16%), 1 (13%), 2 (2a and 2b) (9%), 12 (3%), and 15 (3%). Four of the five group B type 2 strains were serotype 2b. Serotype 2a accounted for four of seven group C strains and four of five group W135 strains. Overall serotypes 2 (2a and 2b) (17%), 8 (13%), and 1 (10%) occurred most frequently amongst the typable strains, whereas 40 (53%) of the 76 strains were nontypable. The results indicate that several serotypes and many nontypable strains were responsible for the sporadic disease occurring during a 10-year period in Australia.
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors