[Molecular characterization of invasive Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated in Tunisia].

We reported a molecular characterization of 25 Haemophilus influenzae strains derived from cases of meningitis and sepsis in children aged less than five years hospitalized in pediatric wards from three hospitals in the Sahel area (Tunisia) during the period 1997-2002. These strains were biotyped and subjected to a capsular typing by Slide agglutination serotyping and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The genetic polymorphism of these strains was also studied in Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR) with two sets of primers: RAP IV and 217 delta(2) as in Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis after digestion of the total DNA with the restriction enzyme SmaI (PFGE SmaI). Nineteen strains among 25 (76%) were of biotype I. The bexA gene was highlighted in 13 strains (52%) and in all the cases it was of the type b. Twelve strains (48%) were shown to be unencapsulated by PCR. AP-PCR RAP IV (23 genotypes/25 with a discrimination index ID=0.993) had shown nearly the same discriminatory power than PFGE (20 genotypes/21 strains with a discrimination index ID=0.995). We thus note, how capsular typing by PCR is more sensitive than slide agglutination serotyping. We also note the genetic diversity of the invasive strains isolated with a remarkable presence of non typable strains. AP PCR seems to be an alternative of choice for the epidemiologic follow-up of the Haemophilus influenzae invasive infections.