title: Serogroup B, electrophoretic type 15 Neisseria meningitidis in Canada.
abstract: Invasive meningococcal disease is nationally reportable in Canada. In recent years, a serogroup C genotype, designated electrophoretic type 15 (ET15), has been the most frequently isolated meningococcal genotype in Canada and has caused epidemics across the country. Between August 1993 and September 1995, there were 9 cases of invasive meningococcal disease caused by a variant of this genotype, expressing group B capsular polysaccharide. The appearance of serogroup B:ET15 was related temporally and geographically to mass immunization campaigns designed to control serogroup C meningococcal disease in Canada. Since there is no vaccine available to control serogroup B meningococcal disease, the appearance of this variant may have public-health significance if it demonstrates the same epidemic potential as its serogroup C counterpart.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada, Ottawa.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kertesz
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Coulthart
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Ashton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004586:Electrophoresis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification*; D012703:Serotyping