title: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of human group B streptococci isolated in Brazil.
abstract: The present study addresses epidemiological aspects of Brazilian human group B streptococci (GBS). GBS (103 isolates) were serotyped with specific rabbit anticapsular antibodies by double diffusion in agarose gels. They represented 3 serotypes: 26 II, 41 III, and 36 V. Thereafter, the strains were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA treated with SmaI. DNA restriction band sizes were compared and displayed 54 PFGE profiles that were arranged into 18 patterns. Of the predominant patterns detected for the 41 type III isolates 4 were observed in 15 strains from individuals with infections whereas only 3 were identified in 22 streptococci from healthy carriers. Such differences did not separate types II and V streptococci from carriers and patients. The PFGE method is a sensitive, precise, and powerful tool for discriminating streptococcal strains for epidemiological purposes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology Prof. Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: I C M
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Mattos
authors.forename: M F T
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Areal
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Carvalho
authors.forename: A M S
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Figuiredo
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Benchetrit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001938:Brazil; D002353:Carrier State; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial