Genomic analysis of urogenital and rectal Neisseria meningitidis isolates reveals encapsulated hyperinvasive meningococci and coincident multi-drug resistant gonococci.

Harrison, O; Cole, K; Peters, J; Cresswell, F; Dean, G; Eyre, D; Paul, J; Maiden, M

Journal article

Genomic analysis of urogenital and rectal Neisseria meningitidis isolates reveals encapsulated hyperinvasive meningococci and coincident multi-drug resistant gonococci.

Abstract:: Objective

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) outbreaks in men who have sex with men (MSM) have been associated with meningococcal colonisation of the urethra and rectum, but little is known about this colonisation or co-colonisation with the closely related gonococcus. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was employed to explore these phenomena.

Methods

Meningococci isolated from the urogenital tract and rectum (n=23) and co-incident gonococci (n=14) were analysed by WGS along with contemporary meningococci from IMD (n=11). All isolates were obtained from hospital admissions in Brighton, UK, 2011 to 2013. Assembled WGS were deposited in the PubMLST/neisseria database (http://pubmlst.org/neisseria) and compared at genomic loci common to gonococci or meningococci.

Results

As expected, most meningococci from IMD were encapsulated and belonged to hyperinvasive lineages. So too were meningococci found in the urogenital tract and rectum, contrasting to those asymptomatically carried in the nasopharynx where such meningococci are rare. Five hyperinvasive meningococcal lineages and four distinct gonococcal genotypes were recovered, including multiresistant ST-1901 (NG MAST-1407) gonococci.

Conclusions

These data were consistent with a predisposition for potentially virulent encapsulated hyperinvasive meningococci to colonise the urethra and rectum, which suggests their involvement in MSM IMD outbreaks. The coincidence of multi-resistant gonococci raises wider public health concerns.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Harrison, O., Cole, K., Peters, J., Cresswell, F., Dean, G., Eyre, D., Paul, J., & Maiden, M. (2017). Genomic analysis of urogenital and rectal Neisseria meningitidis isolates reveals encapsulated hyperinvasive meningococci and coincident multi-drug resistant gonococci. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 93, 445–451.

MLA Style

Harrison, O., et al. “Genomic Analysis of Urogenital and Rectal Neisseria Meningitidis Isolates Reveals Encapsulated Hyperinvasive Meningococci and Coincident Multi-Drug Resistant Gonococci.” Sexually Transmitted Infections, vol. 93, BMJ Publishing Group, 2017, pp. 445–51.

Chicago Style

Harrison, O, K Cole, J Peters, F Cresswell, G Dean, D Eyre, J Paul, and M Maiden. 2017. “Genomic Analysis of Urogenital and Rectal Neisseria Meningitidis Isolates Reveals Encapsulated Hyperinvasive Meningococci and Coincident Multi-Drug Resistant Gonococci.” Sexually Transmitted Infections 93: 445–51.
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