Sero/subtyping ofNeisseria meningitidisisolated from patients in Spain

Abstract

SUMMARYTo know the types of meningococcal strains in Spain, we serotyped and subtyped 743Neisseria meningitidisisolates recovered between 1990 and 1992 from patients. A great number of serogroup B, serogroup C and non-groupable meningoccoci reacted with the serotyping reagents while many serogroup C and non-groupable isolates did not react with the serosubtyping reagents (78·2% and 54·8 % respectively); only 8·9 % of serogroup B meningococci were non-subtypeable (NST). Distribution of serotypes was similar in serogroup C and in non-groupable strains. Isolates showed great variability in antigenic phenotypes (71 in serogroup B, 20 in serogroup C and 25 in non-groupable meningococci). The most frequent antigenic combinations were 4:P1. 15 (39·8%) in serogroup B, 2b:NST (55·8%) in serogroup C and 2b:NST (35·6%) in non-groupable meningococci.