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Clinical Trial
. 2016 Jun;72(6):667-677.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.03.010. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

Pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria species in the African meningitis belt

Kanny Diallo  1 , Caroline Trotter  2 , Youssouf Timbine  3 , Boubou Tamboura  3 , Samba O Sow  3 , Bassira Issaka  4 , Ibrahim D Dano  4 , Jean-Marc Collard  4 , Marietou Dieng  5 , Aldiouma Diallo  5 , Adane Mihret  6 , Oumer A Ali  6 , Abraham Aseffa  6 , Stephen L Quaye  7 , Akalifa Bugri  7 , Isaac Osei  7 , Kadidja Gamougam  8 , Lodoum Mbainadji  8 , Doumagoum M Daugla  8 , Galadima Gadzama  9 , Zailani B Sambo  9 , Babatunji A Omotara  9 , Julia S Bennett  10 , Lisa S Rebbetts  10 , Eleanor R Watkins  10 , Maria Nascimento  11 , Arouna Woukeu  11 , Olivier Manigart  11 , Ray Borrow  12 , James M Stuart  11 , Brian M Greenwood  11 , Martin C J Maiden  10
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria species in the African meningitis belt

Kanny Diallo et al. J Infect. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis, together with the non-pathogenic Neisseria species (NPNs), are members of the complex microbiota of the human pharynx. This paper investigates the influence of NPNs on the epidemiology of meningococcal infection.

Methods: Neisseria isolates were collected during 18 surveys conducted in six countries in the African meningitis belt between 2010 and 2012 and characterized at the rplF locus to determine species and at the variable region of the fetA antigen gene. Prevalence and risk factors for carriage were analyzed.

Results: A total of 4694 isolates of Neisseria were obtained from 46,034 pharyngeal swabs, a carriage prevalence of 10.2% (95% CI, 9.8-10.5). Five Neisseria species were identified, the most prevalent NPN being Neisseria lactamica. Six hundred and thirty-six combinations of rplF/fetA_VR alleles were identified, each defined as a Neisseria strain type. There was an inverse relationship between carriage of N. meningitidis and of NPNs by age group, gender and season, whereas carriage of both N. meningitidis and NPNs was negatively associated with a recent history of meningococcal vaccination.

Conclusion: Variations in the prevalence of NPNs by time, place and genetic type may contribute to the particular epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the African meningitis belt.

Keywords: African meningitis belt; Non-meningococcal Neisseria; Pharyngeal carriage.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency distribution of Neisseria species in each country of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of Neisseria species carried by age group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Frequency distribution of fetA_VR alleles. Frequency distribution of different alleles of the variable region of fetA. Only the 10 most common alleles are displayed; distribution by country (A), by survey (B) and by species (C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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