Issa Mohamed, Mölling Paula, Unemo Magnus, Bäckman Anders, Mosaad Mohamed, Sulaiman Nageeb, Olcén Per
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, Juba University, Sudan.
Scand J Infect Dis. 2003;35(4):230-3.
The first epidemic in the world of meningococcal disease due to serogroup W-135 was reported during the Hajj in 2000, with subsequent spread. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the Hajj 2000 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135 had also been carried to Sudan in the eastern part of the African meningitis belt, by examining healthy Sudanese pilgrims (Hajj 2000) and members of their families, and whether the strain was causing meningitis. The phenotypic character of W-135 meningococci from Sudanese carriers (n = 5) and patients (n = 2) 1 y later was similar to W-135 strains associated with Hajj 2000. The present study, using the combination of the 2 molecular techniques; sequencing of the porA gene for variable regions (VR1, VR2 and VR3) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of the entire genome (using SpeI and NheI), shows that the Hajj 2000 serogroup W-135 clone (P1.5,2,36-2 of the ET-37 complex) most probably was introduced into Sudan, by pilgrims returning from the Hajj 2000. This strain has not been diagnosed before in Sudan. Close epidemiological surveillance is required to identify a possible new emerging meningitis epidemic.
2000年朝觐期间报告了世界上首例由W - 135血清群引起的脑膜炎球菌病疫情，并随后传播开来。本研究的目的是通过检查健康的苏丹朝圣者（2000年朝觐者）及其家庭成员，调查2000年朝觐的W - 135血清群脑膜炎奈瑟菌是否也已传入非洲脑膜炎带东部的苏丹，以及该菌株是否引发脑膜炎。1年后，来自苏丹携带者（n = 5）和患者（n = 2）的W - 135脑膜炎球菌的表型特征与2000年朝觐相关的W - 135菌株相似。本研究采用两种分子技术相结合的方法，即对porA基因可变区（VR1、VR2和VR3）进行测序以及对整个基因组进行脉冲场凝胶电泳（使用SpeI和NheI），结果表明，2000年朝觐的W - 135血清群克隆（ET - 37复合体的P1.5,2,36 - 2）很可能是由2000年朝觐归来的朝圣者传入苏丹的。此前苏丹尚未诊断出该菌株。需要进行密切的流行病学监测，以确定可能新出现的脑膜炎疫情。
