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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2007, p. 1266-1273, Vol. 45, No. 4
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02510-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Clonal Distribution of Invasive Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Strains Circulating from 1976 to 2005 in Greater São Paulo, Brazil{triangledown}

Ana Paula Silva de Lemos,1* Teresa Ykuko Yara,1 Maria Cecília Outeiro Gorla,1 Maria Vaneide de Paiva,1 Adriana Lambert de Souza,1 Maria Inês Cappelletti Gonçalves,3 Samanta Cristine Grassi de Almeida,1 Gloria Regina Feitas do Valle,1 and Claudio Tavares Sacchi2

Division of Medical Biology, Bacteriology Department, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo 01246-902, Brazil,1 Division of Medical Biology, Immunology Department, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo 01246-902, Brazil,2 Center for Epidemiological Surveillance Prof. Alexandre Vranjac, São Paulo 01246-902, Brazil3

Received 14 December 2006/ Returned for modification 5 February 2007/ Accepted 7 February 2007

Meningococcal disease is characterized by cyclic fluctuations in incidence, serogroup distribution, and antigenic profiles. In greater São Paulo, Brazil, there has been a constant increase in the incidence of serogroup C meningococcal disease since the late 1980s. To gain an understanding of changes in serogroup C meningococcal disease over three decades in greater São Paulo, Brazil, 1,059 invasive Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C isolates from 1976 and 2005 were analyzed. Three major clone complexes, sequence type (ST)-11, ST-8, and ST-103, were identified by multilocus sequence typing, and the isolates were characterized by serotyping and 16S rRNA typing. During the 30-year period, there were two major antigenic replacements: from 2a:P1.(5,2) to 2b:P1.3 and subsequently to 23:P1.14-6. All strains of clone ST-103 were characterized as serotype 23 and serosubtype P1.14-6. The origin of 23:P1.14-6 ST-103 complex strains is unknown, but efforts are needed to monitor its spread and define its virulence. The antigenic replacements we observed likely represent a mechanism to sustain meningococcal disease in the population as immunity to circulating strains accumulated.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351 9 andar, São Paulo 01246-900, Brazil. Phone: (11) 3068-2893. Fax: (11) 3085-3505. E-mail: apaula{at}ial.sp.gov.br

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 21 February 2007.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2007, p. 1266-1273, Vol. 45, No. 4
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.02510-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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