Analysis on the first infection case of Neisseria meningitidis Y clonal complex 23 in China

ObjectiveTo analyze the etiological and molecular characteristics of the first infection case of Neisseria meningitidis Y in Dongguan of Guangdong province.

MethodsN. meningitidis strains were isolated from the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid and throat swabs of 171 close contacts by biochemistry test, serological grouping and fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotypes of the isolates were analyzed using multi locus sequence typing (MLST).

ResultsThe results of biochemistry test, serological test and real-time PCR showed that this strain from the patient was N. meningitidis Y. MLST results indicated that it belonged to ST-23 clonal complex (CC23). One strain of N. meningitidis Y and four strains of N. meningitidis B were isolated from 171 throat swabs of close contacts. The results of MLST indicated that the N. meningitidis Y belonged to CC23, one of the N. meningitidis B strain belonged to unassigned complex sequence types. Two N. meningitidis B strains might belong to ST-4821 clonal complex, while another one was identified as ST-5664 belonging to ST-4821 clonal complex.

ConclusionThis was the first infection case of N. meningitidis Y in Guangdong as well as the first infection case of N. meningitidis Y CC23 in China, suggesting that the etiology surveillance for meningococcal meningitis caused by N. meningitidis Y should be further enhanced.