Auxo-, sero-, and opa-typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Istanbul, Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Typing methods are essential in understanding of the transmission dynamics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Several typing methods were described including opa-typing.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to type all of the strains we isolated in the recent past by using auxo-, sero-, and opa-typing, and to compare the discriminatory power of these methods.


METHODS
Auxotyping, serotyping, and opa-typing were performed for 56 N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis.


RESULTS
A total of 9 auxotypes and 33 serovars were detected. Combining the 2 systems, a total of 45 distinct auxotype/serovar (A/S) classes were identified. The most common A/S class was NR/Bsty (5 strains). Fifty-five distinct patterns were detected by opa-typing. Two strains that have been isolated 16 months apart gave identical patterns with opa-typing and their A/S class was also identical (NR/Bsty). Simpson's index of diversity was found as 0.664, 0.961, 0.987, and 0.999 for auxotyping, serotyping, A/S class, and opa-typing, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Opa-typing is a potential useful method for typing N. gonorrhoeae as a result of its high discriminatory power, rapidity, ease and relatively lower cost.
Aydin
Derya
D
Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, 34390 Capa-Istanbul, Turkey. mdaydin@hotmail.com
Köksalan
Kaya
K
Kömeç
Selda
S
Aktaş
Gülseren
G
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology