title: Characterization of Carriage Isolates of Neisseria meningitides in the Adolescents and Young Adults Population of Bogota (Colombia).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meningococcal carriage studies are important to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of meningococcal disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of meningococcal carriage and the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of isolates collected from a sample of students in the city of Bogotá, Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1459 oropharyngeal samples were collected from students aged 15-21 years attending secondary schools and universities. Swabs were plated on a Thayer Martin agar and N. meningitidis was identified by standard microbiology methods and PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall carriage prevalence was 6.85%. Carriage was associated with cohabitation with smokers, and oral sex practices. Non-groupable and serogroup Y isolates were the most common capsule types found. Isolates presented a high genetic diversity, and circulation of the hypervirulent clonal complexes ST-23, ST-32 and ST-41/44 were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The meningococcal carriage rate was lower than those reported in Europe and Africa, but higher than in other Latin American countries. Our data also revealed antigenic and genetic diversity of the isolates and the circulation of strains belonging to clonal complexes commonly associated with meningococcal disease.
authors: Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Moreno
authors: Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Hidalgo
authors: Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Duarte
authors: Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Sanabria
authors: Pan-American Health Organization, Washington DC, United States of America.
authors: Jean Marc
authors: JM
authors: Gabastou
authors: Pan-American Health Organization, Washington DC, United States of America.
authors: Ana Belén
authors: AB
authors: Ibarz-Pavon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial