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. 2021 May-Jun;25(3):101586.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2021.101586. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Capsular genotype distribution of Group B Streptococcus colonization among at-risk pregnant women in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Renato de Ávila Kfouri  1 , Antônio Carlos Campos Pignatari  2 , Elisa Junko Ura Kusano  3 , Talita Trevizani Rocchetti  2 , Clara Lopes Fonseca  2 , Lily Yin Weckx  4
Affiliations

Capsular genotype distribution of Group B Streptococcus colonization among at-risk pregnant women in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Renato de Ávila Kfouri et al. Braz J Infect Dis. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Vaccines in development against Group B Streptococcus (GBS) should contain the most prevalent capsular genotypes screened in the target population. In low- and middle-income countries epidemiological data on GBS carriage among pregnant women, a prerequisite condition for GBS neonatal sepsis, is needed to inform vaccine strategies.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of different GBS capsular genotypes that colonizes at-risk pregnant women in a private maternity hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: GBS strains isolated in routine maternity procedures from at-risk pregnant women from 2014 to 2018 were confirmed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) with subsequent DNA extraction for identification of capsular genotype through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic and gestational data were analyzed.

Results: A total of 820 Todd-Hewitt broths positive for GBS were selected for streptococcal growth. Recovery and confirmation of GBS by MALDI-TOF were possible in 352. Strains were processed for determination of capsular genotype by PCR. From the total of 352 GBS isolates, 125 strains (35.5%) were genotyped as Ia; 23 (6.5%) as Ib; 41 (11.6%) as II; 36 (10.2%) as III; 4 (1.1%) as IV; 120 (34.1%) as V and 1 strain (0.3%) as VIII. Two isolates (0.7%) were not genotyped by used methodology. No statistically significant correlation between gestational risk factors, demographic data and distribution of capsular genotypes were found.

Conclusions: GBS capsular genotypes Ia, Ib, II, III, and V were the most prevalent isolates colonizing at risk pregnant women in the present study. The inclusion of capsular genotypes Ia and V in the composition of future vaccines would cover 69.6% of capsular genotypes in the studied population. No statistically significant differences were observed between capsular genotype and gestational and demographic data and risk factors.

Keywords: Group B Streptococcus; Infant, Newborn; Polymerase chain reaction; Streptococcus vaccines; immunization; infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Electrophoresis gel for the seven PCRs for serotyping. P: molecular weight of 100 base pairs; CN: negative control; PCR 1: cfb extraction control; PCR 2: Capsular genotype Ia, Ib and II; PCR 3: Capsular genotype III and V; PCR 4: Capsular genotype IV; PCR 5: Capsular genotype VI; PCR 6: Capsular genotype VII and PCR 7: Capsular genotype VIII.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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