Capsule switching among C:2b:P1.2,5 meningococcal epidemic strains after mass immunization campaign, Spain.
A mass immunization campaign for 18-month to 19-year-olds was undertaken in Spain in 1996-1997 because of an epidemic of serogroup C meningococcal disease associated with a C:2b:P1.2,5 strain belonging to the A4 lineage. Surveillance for the "capsule-switching" phenomenon producing B:2b:P1.2,5 isolates was undertaken. Of 2,975 meningococci characterized, B:2b:P1.2,5 and B:2b:P1.2 antigenic combinations were found in 18 isolates; 15 meningococci were defined as serogroup B belonging to the A4 lineage.
Alcalá
Belén
B
Centro Nacional de Microbiología-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Arreaza
Luisa
L
Salcedo
Celia
C
Uría
María J
MJ
De La Fuente
Laura
L
Vázquez
Julio A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000145:classification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C037676:meningococcal group C polysaccharide