title: Capsule switching among C:2b:P1.2,5 meningococcal epidemic strains after mass immunization campaign, Spain.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Microbiología-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alcalá
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arreaza
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Uría
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De La Fuente
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vázquez
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C037676:meningococcal group C polysaccharide