title: Molecular Typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates by Opa-Typing and Ribotyping in New Delhi, India.
abstract: Control and preventive measures for gonococcal infections are based on precise epidemiological characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae isolates. In the present study the potential utility of opa-typing and ribotyping for molecular epidemiological study of consecutive gonococcal strains was determined. Sixty gonococcal isolates were subjected to ribotyping with two restriction enzymes, AvaII and HincII, and opa-typing with TaqI and HpaII for epidemiological characterization of gonococcal population. Ribotyping with AvaII yielded 6 ribotype patterns while twelve RFLP patterns were observed with HincII. Opa-typing of the 60 isolates revealed a total 54 opa-types, which 48 were unique and 6 formed clusters. Fifty-two opa-types were observed with TaqI-digested PCR product while opa-typing with HpaII demonstrated 54 opa-types. The opa-types from isolates that were epidemiologically unrelated were distinct, whereas those from the sexual contacts were identical. The results showed that opa-typing is highly useful for characterizing gonococcal strains from sexual contacts and has more discriminatory than ribotyping that could differentiate between gonococci of the same ribotype. The technique even with a single restriction enzyme has a high level of discrimination (99.9%) between epidemiologically unrelated isolates. In conclusion, the molecular methods such as opa-typing and ribotyping can be used for epidemiological characterization of gonococcal strains.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Pejvak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khaki
authors.forename: Preena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: Ahmad Mir
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fayaz
authors.forename: Sohiela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moradi Bidhendi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmailzadeh
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma