title: Carriage of serogroup W-135, ET-37 meningococci in The Gambia: implications for immunisation policy?
abstract: We found high levels of symptomless carriage of a hyperinvasive Neisseria meningitidis strain (electrophoretic type 37 [ET-37], serogroup W-135) during a vaccine trial in Gambian children in 1996. Serogroup C, ET-37 complex meningococci cause 30-40% of meningococcal disease in countries such as the UK, and have a point prevalence of 0.5-1.0%. The recent Haj-associated spread of serogroup W-135, ET-37 complex meningococci, which has been accompanied by numerous secondary cases, might be explained by the apparently raised carriage rates reported here.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: MacLennan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urwin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obaro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maiden
mesh_terms: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification*; D012703:Serotyping; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines