title: Molecular characteristics and epidemiology of meningococcal carriage, Burkina Faso, 2003.
abstract: To describe Neisseria meningitidis strains in the African meningitis belt in 2003, we obtained 2,389 oropharyngeal swabs at 5 monthly visits a representative population sample (age range 4-29 years) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. A total of 152 carriage isolates were grouped, serotyped, and genotyped. Most isolates were NG:NT:NST sequence type (ST) 192 (63% of all N. meningitidis), followed by W135:2a:P1.5,2 of ST-11 (16%) and NG:15:P1.6 of ST-198 (12%). We also found ST-2881 (W135:NT:P1.5,2), ST-751 (X:NT:P1.5), and ST-4375 (Y:14:P1.5,2) but not serogroups A or C. Estimated average duration of carriage was 30 days (95% confidence interval 24-36 days). In the context of endemic group W135 and meningococcal A disease, we found substantial diversity in strains carried, including all strains currently involved in meningitis in this population, except for serogroup A. These findings show the need for large samples and a longitudinal design for N. meningitidis serogroup A carriage studies.
authors.affiliation: Agence de Médecine Préventive, Paris, France. jmueller@aamp.org
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Lassana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sangaré
authors.forename: Berthe-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Njanpop-Lafourcade
authors.forename: Zekiba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tarnagda
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaro
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrow
authors.forename: Bradford D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D042806:Neisseria lactamica / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping