Abstract
In Italy, B and C are the predominant serogroups among meningococci causing invasive diseases. Nevertheless, in the period from 2013 to 2016, an increase in serogroup W Neisseria meningitidis (MenW) was observed. This study intends to define the main characteristics of 63 MenW isolates responsible of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Italy from 2000 to 2016. We performed whole genome sequencing on bacterial isolates or single gene sequencing on culture-negative samples to evaluate molecular heterogeneity. Our main finding was the cocirculation of the Hajj and the South American sublineages belonging to MenW/clonal complex (cc)11, which gradually surpassed the MenW/cc22 in Italy. All MenW/cc11 isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G and rifampicin. We identified the full-length NadA protein variant 2/3, present in all the MenW/cc11. We also identified the fHbp variant 1, which we found exclusively in the MenW/cc11/Hajj sublineage. Concern about the epidemic potential of MenW/cc11 has increased worldwide since the year 2000. Continued surveillance, supported by genomic characterisation, allows high-resolution tracking of pathogen dissemination and the detection of epidemic-associated strains.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2019 |
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Cocirculation of Hajj and non-Hajj strains among serogroup W meningococci in Italy, 2000 to 2016. / Fazio, Cecilia; Neri, Arianna; Vacca, Paola; Ciammaruconi, Andrea; Arghittu, Milena; Barbui, Anna Maria; Vocale, Caterina; Bernaschi, Paola; Isola, Patrizia; Galanti, Irene Alessandra; Mencacci, Antonella; De Nittis, Rosella; Chironna, Maria; Giammanco, Anna; Pagani, Elisabetta; Bisbano, Alessandro; Stefanelli, Paola.
In: Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 4, 01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Cocirculation of Hajj and non-Hajj strains among serogroup W meningococci in Italy, 2000 to 2016
AU - Fazio, Cecilia
AU - Neri, Arianna
AU - Vacca, Paola
AU - Ciammaruconi, Andrea
AU - Arghittu, Milena
AU - Barbui, Anna Maria
AU - Vocale, Caterina
AU - Bernaschi, Paola
AU - Isola, Patrizia
AU - Galanti, Irene Alessandra
AU - Mencacci, Antonella
AU - De Nittis, Rosella
AU - Chironna, Maria
AU - Giammanco, Anna
AU - Pagani, Elisabetta
AU - Bisbano, Alessandro
AU - Stefanelli, Paola
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - In Italy, B and C are the predominant serogroups among meningococci causing invasive diseases. Nevertheless, in the period from 2013 to 2016, an increase in serogroup W Neisseria meningitidis (MenW) was observed. This study intends to define the main characteristics of 63 MenW isolates responsible of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Italy from 2000 to 2016. We performed whole genome sequencing on bacterial isolates or single gene sequencing on culture-negative samples to evaluate molecular heterogeneity. Our main finding was the cocirculation of the Hajj and the South American sublineages belonging to MenW/clonal complex (cc)11, which gradually surpassed the MenW/cc22 in Italy. All MenW/cc11 isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G and rifampicin. We identified the full-length NadA protein variant 2/3, present in all the MenW/cc11. We also identified the fHbp variant 1, which we found exclusively in the MenW/cc11/Hajj sublineage. Concern about the epidemic potential of MenW/cc11 has increased worldwide since the year 2000. Continued surveillance, supported by genomic characterisation, allows high-resolution tracking of pathogen dissemination and the detection of epidemic-associated strains.
AB - In Italy, B and C are the predominant serogroups among meningococci causing invasive diseases. Nevertheless, in the period from 2013 to 2016, an increase in serogroup W Neisseria meningitidis (MenW) was observed. This study intends to define the main characteristics of 63 MenW isolates responsible of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Italy from 2000 to 2016. We performed whole genome sequencing on bacterial isolates or single gene sequencing on culture-negative samples to evaluate molecular heterogeneity. Our main finding was the cocirculation of the Hajj and the South American sublineages belonging to MenW/clonal complex (cc)11, which gradually surpassed the MenW/cc22 in Italy. All MenW/cc11 isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G and rifampicin. We identified the full-length NadA protein variant 2/3, present in all the MenW/cc11. We also identified the fHbp variant 1, which we found exclusively in the MenW/cc11/Hajj sublineage. Concern about the epidemic potential of MenW/cc11 has increased worldwide since the year 2000. Continued surveillance, supported by genomic characterisation, allows high-resolution tracking of pathogen dissemination and the detection of epidemic-associated strains.
U2 - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.4.1800183
DO - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.4.1800183
M3 - Article
C2 - 30696530
VL - 24
JO - Eurosurveillance
JF - Eurosurveillance
SN - 1560-7917
IS - 4
ER -