Pharyngeal carriage of serogroup W135 Neisseria meningitidis in Hajjees and their family contacts in Morocco, Oman and Sudan

APMIS. 2005 Mar;113(3):182-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2005.apm1130305.x.

Abstract

In 2000 the global outbreak that began in Saudi Arabia was caused by a W135:2a:P1.5,2 strain of Neisseria meningitidis belonging to the ET-37 complex and to ST-11. There was concern that introduction of this epidemic clone (EC) might lead to a wave of outbreaks in the African meningitis belt. The WHO therefore initiated studies of meningococcal carriage among pilgrims and their family contacts in Morocco, Oman and Sudan, 3 to 12 months after the Hajj 2000. In Morocco, 1186 persons were swabbed 3 times. Ninety-five meningococcal strains were isolated from 2.7% of the specimens. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that 32 (33.6%) were identical with the EC. In Sudan, 5 strains identical with the EC were obtained after sampling 285 persons. In Oman, among 18 meningococcal strains isolated from 399 subjects, 11 (61.1%) belonged to the EC. The important pharyngeal carriage of W135 (EC) and its role in the 2001-2002 outbreaks in Burkina Faso argues for the necessity of reinforcing surveillance, and adapting and planning responses in Africa and the Middle East using the most appropriate vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier State*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Family Health
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Marokko
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / isolation & purification*
  • Oman
  • Pharynx / microbiology*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Serotyping
  • Sudan