Skip to main content
Log in

Characteristics of serogroup ANeisseria meningitidis strains isolated in the Central African Republic in February 1992

  • Notes
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A severe epidemic of serogroup A meningococcus meningitis occurred in the northwest Central African Republic from January to March 1992. Strains from 24 patients were characterized using serotyping, testing of susceptibility to antibiotics, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. In 23 of the 24 patients the causal strain was found to be 4:P1.9/clone III-1. These results indicate that such strains continue to spread in Africa and have taken hold in areas outside the “meningitis belt.” This may be a consequence of changing climatic conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lapeyssonnie L La méningite cérébrospinale en Afrique. Bulletin de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé 1963, 28: S3-S114.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Moore PS Meningococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa: a model for the epidemic process. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1992, 14: 515–525.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang JF, Caugant DA, Li X, Hu X, Poolman JT, Crowe BA, Achtman M Clonal and antigenic analysis of serogroup ANeisseria meningitidis with particular reference to epidemiological features of epidemic meningitis in the People's Republic of China. Infection and Immunity 1992, 60: 5267–5282.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Olyhock T, Crowe BA, Achtman M Clonal population structure ofNeisseria meningitidis serogroup A isolated from epidemics and pandemics between 1915 and 1983. Reviews of Infectious Diseases 1987, 9: 665–692.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Caugant DA, Fröholm LO, Bövre K, Holten E, Frasch CE, Mocca LF, Zollinger WD, Selander RK Intercontinental spread of a genetically distinctive complex of clones ofNeisseria meningitidis causing epidemic disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 1986, 83: 4927–4931.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Moore PS, Reeves MW, Schwartz B, Gellin BG, Broome CV Intercontinental spread of an epidemic group ANeisseria meningitidis strain. Lancet 1989, ii: 260–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Haimanot RT, Caugant DA, Fekadu D, Bjune G, Belete B, Fröholm LO, Höiby EA, Rosenqvist E, Selander RK, Bjorvatn B Characteristics of serogroup ANeisseria meningitidis responsible for an epidemic in Ethiopia, 1988–89. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1990, 22: 171–174.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Salih MAM, Danielsson D, Bäckman A, Caugant DA, Achtman M, Olcen P Characterization of epidemic and nonepidemicNeisseria meningitidis serogroup A strains from Sudan and Sweden. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1990, 28: 1711–1719.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. World Health Organization Cerebrospinal meningitis in the Central African Republic. Weekly Epidemiological Record 1992, 67: 333–340.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Riou JY, Guibourdenche M Neisseria andBranhamella: laboratory methods. Institut Pasteur, Paris, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Riou JY, Caugant DA, Selander RK, Poolman JT, Guibourdenche M, Collatz E Characterization ofNeisseria meningitidis serogroup A strains from an outbreak in France by serotype, serosubtype, multilocus enzyme genotype and outer membrane protein pattern. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 1991, 10: 405–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Poolman JT, Abdillahi H Outer membrane protein sero-subtyping ofNeisseria meningitidis. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 1988, 7: 291–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Selander RK, Caugant DA, Ochman H, Musser JM, Gilmour MN, Whittam TS Methods of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis for bacterial population genetics and systematics. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1986, 51: 873–884.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Achtman M, Kusecek B, Morelli G, Eikmann K, Jiantu W, Crowe B, Wall RA, Hassau-King M, Moore PS, Zollinqer W A comparison of the variable antigens expressed by clone IV-1 and subgroup III ofNeisseria meningitidis serogroup A. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1992, 165: 53–68.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guibourdenche, M., Caugant, D.A., Hervé, V. et al. Characteristics of serogroup ANeisseria meningitidis strains isolated in the Central African Republic in February 1992. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 174–177 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01982194

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01982194

Keywords

Navigation