title: Variable-number tandem repeat analysis of meningococcal isolates belonging to the sequence type 162 complex.
abstract: Thirty-one meningococcal isolates from carriers and disease cases belonging to the sequence type (ST) 162 complex, isolated in Greece in 1999 and 2000, were studied by the use of variable-number tandem repeat analysis. Our study demonstrated that the isolates belonging to the ST-162 clonal complex were a heterogeneous group. Based on this heterogeneity, it is unlikely that the disease-associated isolates represent an outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Airborne Infections, Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. siya@fhi.no
authors.forename: Siamak P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yazdankhah
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kesanopoulos
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzanakaki
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kremastinou
authors.forename: Dominique A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caugant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012703:Serotyping