Abstract
BackgroundMeningococcal 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.Materials and MethodsA 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThe 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.
Highlights
IntroductionThe meningococcus, is a harmless commensal of the human nasopharynx
Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a harmless commensal of the human nasopharynx
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
Summary
The meningococcus, is a harmless commensal of the human nasopharynx. Asymptomatic carriage is an age-dependent phenomenon, with point prevalence carriage rates usually ranging from 10% to 35% in young adults. Despite high rates of meningococcal carriage, the disease is rare, with annual incidence varying from 1 to 1000 cases per 100,000 individuals in different parts of the world [3]. In Colombia, the annual incidence rate of meningococcal disease varies from 0.55 in 1994 to 1.02 in 2011 cases per 100,000 inhabitants [4], and N. meningitides serogroup B isolates were the most frequently received by the National Reference Laboratory [5]. 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
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