[Study of ninety strains of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (25) and rhinopharynx (65) in Morocco (December 1989-April 1990)]

Abstract

Ninety strains of Neisseria meningitidis were recovered from cerebrospinal fluid and nasopharyngeal specimens during the outbreak which occurred in Morocco between December 1989 and April 1990. All the strains recovered belonged to serogroup A. Serotype determination carried out using the "whole cell ELISA" method showed that all strains were serotype 4, subtype P1.9. Antigenic formula of the strains was therefore A:4:P1.9. Electrophoretic characterization of outer membrane proteins demonstrated proteins belonging to classes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, with a few rare exceptions which are discussed.