title: High-virulence clone of group B streptococci unable to grow at high temperatures is present in serotypes other than type III.
abstract: Highly virulent clonotypes of serotype III seem to cause much of the perinatal morbidity and mortality attributed to Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci, GBS), One of these clonal types, designated the "high-virulence clone" (HVC), was identified by its inability to grow at 40 degrees C in a chemically defined medium. In the present study, this inability to grow at high temperatures was used as a marker to identify HVC in a sample of 286 Mexican GBS isolates. Forty-three isolates (15%) were identified as belonging to this clone: 15 were invasive isolates, 33 were serotype III (77%), and 10 were of serotypes other than type III (23%). These results demonstrate that HVC is more prevalent in Mexico than previously reported and that this clone is not restricted to serotype III isolates.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Infectologia and Unidad de Investigacion en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatria, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico. palsaugc@att.net.mx
authors.forename: Gerardo C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Fortino
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solorzano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008800:Mexico; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013696:Temperature; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media