Prevalence of de-O-acetylated serogroup C meningococci before the introduction of meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccines in the United Kingdom

Ray Borrow*, Emma Longworth, Stephen J. Gray, Edward B. Kaczmarski

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccines have been introduced in the UK to combat the rise in serogroup C meningococcal disease. Serogroup C meningococci may occur naturally expressing either O-acetylated (Oac+) or de-O-acetylated (Oac-) polysaccharide capsules. In a small study in the USA in the 1970s 15% of serogroup C meningococcal case isolates were reported to be Oac- though the prevalence of these Oac- isolates has not been recorded in the UK. This is of interest as the first MCC vaccines to be introduced are Oac+ and the potential impact of this on Oac- serogroup C isolates is unclear. Serogroup C isolates submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Service Meningococcal Reference Unit in January 1998 (n=113) and January 1999 (n=162) were investigated by dot blotting using monoclonals specific for Oac+ and Oac- serogroup C polysaccharides. This revealed 12% Oac- isolates for both January 1998 and January 1999. The proportion of fatal cases was found to similar for both Oac- and Oac+, 14 and 9% for 1998 and 5 and 3% for 1999, indicating that the pathogenic potential of these Oac- isolates is similar to Oac+. The acetylation status of serogroup C isolates needs to be monitored throughout and after the introduction of MCC vaccines.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-191
Number of pages3
JournalFEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Conjugate vaccine
  • De-O-Acetylated
  • Serogroup C meningococcus

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