title: Molecular characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Burkina Faso in 2001.
abstract: In the course of an epidemic of meningitis in Burkina Faso in 2001, 27 cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients in 7 districts were forwarded to Norway for isolation and characterization of the causative agents. Neisseria meningitidis was isolated from 13 (48%) samples. The isolates were analysed using serological and genetic methods. Of the 13 strains, 4 were serogroup A, serotype 21:P1.9, sequence type (ST)-5 and belonged to clonal subgroup III, while the remaining 9 strains were serogroup W135, serotype 2a:P1.5,2, ST-11 and belonged to the electrophoretic type-37 complex. PCR analyses revealed meningococcal DNA in 13/14 culture-negative samples. Sequence analysis of the PCR products demonstrated that at least 3 different meningococcal strains were responsible for these 13 cases. Our results show that the W135 strain associated with the 2000 hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) outbreak was a significant cause of disease in Burkina Faso in 2001. Further studies are warranted to determine whether W135 is about to replace serogroup A in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ouedraogo-Traore
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Høiby
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sangare
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kyelem
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ye-Ouattara
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Frøholm
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caugant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial