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. 1991 Nov;29(11):2489–2493. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.11.2489-2493.1991

Emergence of a virulent clone of Neisseria meningitidis serotype 2a that is associated with meningococcal group C disease in Canada.

F E Ashton 1, J A Ryan 1, A Borczyk 1, D A Caugant 1, L Mancino 1, D Huang 1
PMCID: PMC270360  PMID: 1774254

Abstract

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis was used to characterize 378 isolates of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C recovered during a period of an increase in group C meningococcal disease in Canada. Thirty-four enzyme electrophoretic types were found among the isolates, which were predominantly (96.0%) serotype 2a. One clone (ET 15), characterized by a rarely occurring allele for the enzyme fumarase, was responsible for a focal outbreak in Ontario followed by the spread of group C disease across the province. This clone, which occurred infrequently among strains isolated in 1986, accounted for over 65% of group C strains associated with meningococcal disease in Canada in 1990.

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Selected References

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