Resumen

MARTINEZ, Isabel et al. Phenotypic characterization of invasive strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated in Cuba during 20 years. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2006, vol.15, n.1, pp.9-16. ISSN 1025-028X.

The epidemiological markers (sero-groups, sero-types, sub-types, immuno-types) of 429 invasive strains isolated in Cuba during 20 years (1982- 2002) were investigated. Based on the behavior of the Meningococcal Disease (MD) incidence in the investigated period, the strains were distributed in two stages: epidemic and post-epidemic. The epidemic stage involved 279 strains isolated between 1982 and 1992 and the postepidemic one included 150 isolations carried out between 1993 and 2002. All of them were seeded in Mueller Hinton Agar with fetal bovine serum (5%) and incubated for 24-48 hours, 37 0C, in humid atmosphere with 5% of C02. The identification of sex, species and sero-group was performed using conventional methods; characterization of sero/sub-types and immuno-types was carried out using the immuno-enzimatic test (ELISA) of whole cells with monoclonal antibodies. Serogroup B (97,90%) prevailed in both stages: epidemic (96.77%) and post-epidemic (100%). However, sero-group C (1.43%) and non-grouping strains (1,8%) were only observed in the isolations of the epidemic stage. The other prevailing markers were: serotype 4 (86.48%), subtype P1.19,15 (78.32%), immuno-type L3,7,9 (90.2%) which showed similar figures in both periods. Phenotype B:4:P1.19,15: L3,7,9 (69,69%) prevailed, although, in the post-epidemic stage (77.34%), the percentage was higher than that of the epidemic one (65.66%) (p<0.05). A higher diversity of phenotypic associations was also observed in the strains of this period. Results obtained from this phenotypic characterization of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from ill persons provide valuable data to the study, prevention and succesful control of the MD in Cuba.

Palabras clave : Neisseria meningitidis; meningococcal disease; ill persons; epidemiological markers; phenotypes; meningococcal vaccine.

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