[Epidemiological characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Taiwan. Part II: Distribution of auxotyping, serogrouping and plasmid profile].

Epidemiology of gonococcal infection in Taiwan was investigated. Six hundred twelve isolates from 7 cities in 1983-1984 were examined for auxotyping by Hendry and Stewart's method, for serotyping by coagglutination of monoclonal antibodies with the antigenic specificity of gonococcal protein I molecules and for plasmid profile by the alkaline quick method. The results are described below: (1) Thirty-six auxotypes were found. Prototropic (Prototype) 45.4% (284/612) and Proline type (Pro) 38.7% (237/612) were the two dominant auxotypes. Arg- Hyp- Ura- which was thought to be correlated with disseminated gonococcal infection was not found. (2) Fifty-five percent penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrheal (PPNG) were prototype and 48.8% non-PPNG were Pro. (3) Sixteen serotypes were identified among 56 strains. There was 17.8 (10/56 which belonged to the IA group and 82.2% (46/56) to the IB group. (4) Five molecular weight plasmids were found. They were 2.6 Mdal, 3.05 Mdal, 4.7 Mdal, 7.8 Mdal and 24.5 Mdal. (5) There were 7 plasmid profiles including 2.6 Mdal (26.4%); 2.6 Mdal +24.5 Mdal (23.2%); 2.6 Mdal+7.8 Mdal+24.5 Mdal (0.4%); 2.6 Mdal+4.7 Mdal (8.9%); 2.6 Mdal+4.7 Mdal+24.5 Mdal (38.2%); 2.6 Mdal+4.7 Mdal+24.5 Mdal (0.2%) and 2.6 Mdal+3.05 Mdal+24.5 Mdal (2.4%). (6) All the isolates harbored cryptic 2.6 Mdal plasmid. Eighty three percent of the PPNG and 48.6% of the non-PPNG harbored 24.5 Mdal plasmid. Twelve out of 305 PPNG isolates were "Toronto" type 3.05 Mdal plasmid. Others were "Asian" 4.7 Mdal plasmid. There were no "African" type 3.2 Mdal plasmids found.