Prevalence of porA pseudogene deletion among Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates referred to the UK's Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Program

Sex Health. 2017 Aug;14(4):392-393. doi: 10.1071/SH16162.

Abstract

porA pseudogene-negative Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates produce false-negative results when examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with porA pseudogene targets. In the present study, 533 representative gonococcal isolates received in 2011 via the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Program were examined to determine the prevalence of porA-negative isolates. Less than 0.4% (2/533) of isolates were found to be reproducibly negative with the porA real-time PCR but were confirmed as N. gonorrhoeae with molecular, biochemical and immunological confirmatory tests. Sequencing revealed both isolates contained the Neisseria meningitidis porA gene. Low prevalence indicates that although these isolates do not present a major public health problem, microbiologists should remain vigilant.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gonorrhea / diagnosis
  • Gonorrhea / drug therapy
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics*
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • Porins / genetics*
  • Pseudogenes / genetics*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Porins
  • porin protein, Neisseria
  • Opa protein, Neisseria