scholarly journals Transmission ofNeisseria meningitidisamong asymptomatic military recruits and antibody analysis

1992 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Caugant ◽  
E. A. Høiby ◽  
E. Rosenqvist ◽  
L. O. Frøholm ◽  
R. K. Selander
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Military Recruits ◽  
Electrophoretic Mobilities ◽  
Military Camp ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Disease Episode ◽  
Serological Studies

SUMMARYFollowing the occurrence of a case of systemic meningococcal disease in a military camp in Norway, throat cultures and blood samples were collected from 33 healthy individuals belonging to the same troop as the patient (troop A) and from 29 individuals from a different troop (troop B) in the same camp. Serological studies showed that 91% of the recruits had bactericidal antibodies against the disease-causing strain. The isolates ofNeisseria meningitidisrecovered from the throat cultures were serogrouped, serotyped, and assigned to a clone on the basis of an analysis of the electrophoretic mobilities of 14 metabolic enzymes. None of the 23 carriers in troop A harboured the clone responsible for the case of disease, but 6 carried isolates of the same electrophoretic type, ET-7, which was not identified in any of the 19 carriers of troop B. Individuals in troop A were resampled 2 and 17 weeks after the meningococcal disease episode. Five of the carriers had acquired different clones and one of them changed clone twice in that period. Four of the six newly acquired clones had previously been identified in other carriers of troop A, demonstrating transmission of clones among individuals living and working in close proximity.

scholarly journals Immunity to Neisseria meningitidis Group B in Adults despite Lack of Serum Bactericidal Antibody

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1596-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Anne Welsch ◽  
Dan Granoff
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Bactericidal Activity ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitor ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Blood Assay ◽  
Bactericidal Antibody ◽  
Bactericidal Activities ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACT Serum-complement-mediated bactericidal antibody (SBA) remains the serologic hallmark of protection against meningococcal disease, despite experimental and epidemiologic data that SBA may underestimate immunity. We measured bactericidal activity against three strains of Neisseria meningitidis group B in sera from 48 healthy adults and in whole blood from 15 subjects. Blood was anticoagulated with lepirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor not known to activate complement. Depending on the test strain, protective SBA titers of ≥1:4 were present in only 8 to 15% of the subjects, whereas bactericidal activity was present in 40 to 87% of subjects according to the blood assay. Among SBA-negative subjects, blood from 23 to 42% gave a decrease of ≥2 log10 CFU/ml after 1 h of incubation, and blood from 36 to 83% gave a decrease of ≥1 log10 after 2 h. For most blood samples, bactericidal antibodies primarily were directed against noncapsular antigens, since activity was not inhibited by group B polysaccharide. For some SBA-negative subjects, white cells were not needed, since similar respective bactericidal activities were observed in blood and plasma. Bactericidal activity by whole blood of SBA-negative subjects can be rapid (<1 h) and effective (≥2 log10) and, among all subjects, was four- to sixfold more prevalent than a positive SBA. Thus, while an SBA titer of ≥1:4 predicts protection against meningococcal disease, a titer of <1:4 is poorly predictive of susceptibility. More sensitive assays than SBA are needed to assess protective meningococcal immunity, or we risk underestimating the extent of immunity in the population and the effectiveness of new meningococcal vaccines.

Prevalence and genetic diversity of two adhesion-related genes, pilE and nadA, in Neisseria meningitidis in China

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
pp. 2163-2172 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. SUN ◽  
H. ZHOU ◽  
L. XU ◽  
H. YANG ◽  
Y. GAO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Type Iv Pili ◽  
Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Class I ◽  
Type Iv

SUMMARYThe main Neisseria meningitidis adhesion molecules, type IV pili (Tfp) and Neisseria adhesion A (NadA), play important roles in the pathogenesis of invasive meningococcal disease. PilE is the major Tfp subunit. In this study, the prevalence and genetic diversity of pilE and nadA were investigated in the prevalent serogroups and clonal complexes (CC) of N. meningitidis isolated in China. All serogroup A strains belonging to CC1 and CC5 and all CC11 serogroup W135 strains were clustered into class II PilE clades. All serogroup C and most of serogroup B isolates except CC8 and ST5642 were class I PilE clades. Class II pilE sequences were highly conserved. All isolates belonging to class I PilE isolates were nadA negative. However, nadA-positive strains were exclusively found in CC5 and CC11 isolates (class II PilE). This study showed that PilE and NadA may be related to epidemic or endemic meningococcal disease.

scholarly journals Flushing of an intravenous catheter

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 614-618
Author(s):  
Rutger C.C. Hengeveld ◽  
Bianca E. Olofsen ◽  
Edmée C. van Dongen-Lases ◽  
Peter A. Leenhouts ◽  
Victor F.H.A. Hakkenberg van Gaasbeek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Continuous Infusion ◽  
Intravenous Catheter ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Life Threatening

Introduction: Phlebotomy is an error-prone process in which mistakes are difficult to reveal. This case report describes the effect on laboratory results originating from a blood sample collected in close proximity to an intravenous catheter. Materials and methods: A 69-year-old male patient was referred to the Emergency department where pneumonia was suspected. Phlebotomy was performed to collect blood samples to assess electrolytes, renal function, liver function, infection and haematological parameters. Results: The laboratory analysis showed reduced potassium and calcium concentrations. To prevent life-threatening cardiac failure the clinician decided to correct those electrolytes. Remarkably, the electrocardiogram showed no abnormalities corresponding to hypokalaemia and hypocalcaemia. This observation, in combination with an overall increase in laboratory parameters with the exception of sodium and chloride, led to the suspicion of a preanalytical error. Retrospectively, an intravenous catheter was inserted in close proximity of the puncture place but no continuous infusion was started prior to phlebotomy. However, the intravenous catheter was flushed with sodium chloride. Since potential other causes were excluded, the flushing of the intravenous catheter with sodium chloride prior to phlebotomy was the most probable cause for the deviating laboratory results and subsequently for the unnecessary potassium and calcium suppletion. Conclusion: This case underlines the importance of caution in the interpretation of laboratory results obtained from specimens that are collected in the proximity of an intravenous catheter, even in the absence of continuous infusion.

scholarly journals Serum Protein Profile Of Iraqi Hydatidosis Patients with Different Sites of Infection

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-616
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Serum Protein ◽  
Protein Profile ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Banding Patterns ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Serum Protein Profile

Blood samples of One hundred and twenty patients from different hospitals in Baghdad infected with hydatidosis in different sites of the body (Liver, Lung, multiorgans and kidney) were collected for this study. On the other hand, 30 healthy individuals were included as a control group. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of this disease on the serum protein profile of the patients using electrophoresis. The results revealed four different protein banding patterns with difference in number of bands and their molecular weights in comparison to the control group, and these differences depended on the site of infection. However the data showed a presence of the same band in all patients with different site of infection.

scholarly journals Clonal Distribution of Invasive Neisseria meningitidis Isolates from the Norwegian County of Telemark, 1987 to 1995

1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2623-2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randi Kersten Aakre ◽  
Andrew Jenkins ◽  
Bjørn-Erik Kristiansen ◽  
L. Oddvar Frøholm
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Restriction Endonuclease ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Restriction Endonuclease Analysis ◽  
Serological Analysis ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Clonal Distribution ◽  
Endonuclease Analysis

Forty-two Neisseria meningitidis isolates were obtained from patients with meningococcal disease in the Norwegian county of Telemark (January 1987 to March 1995), and all were compared by PCR amplicon restriction endonuclease analysis (PCR-AREA) of thedhps gene, chromosomal DNA fingerprinting, and serological analysis. PCR-AREA divided the isolates into 11 classes, of which 4, comprising 15, 8, 6, and 2 isolates, were clonal while the remaining 8 classes were genetically heterogeneous or contained only 1 isolate. Three of the four clonal classes could be tentatively equated with recognized epidemic clones (ET5, ET37, and cluster A4) on the basis of their phenotypic characteristics, while the remaining clone appears to be new. There were significant differences in the geographical distribution of clones, with class 1 (ET5-like) isolates significantly overrepresented in rural parts of Telemark. Class 1 (ET5-like) isolates occurred throughout the study period and were dominant in 1987. Class 2 (ET37-like) isolates occurred from 1988 to 1992, and class 3 isolates (with no recognizable ET affinities) were found only in 1991 and 1992.

Interactions between Neisseria meningitidis and human cells that promote colonisation and disease

2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Corbett ◽  
Rachel Exley ◽  
Sandrine Bourdoulous ◽  
Christoph M. Tang
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Bacterial Meningitis ◽  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Human Cell ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Host Pathogen

Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, a potentially fatal condition that particularly affects children. Multiple steps are involved during the pathogenesis of infection, including the colonisation of healthy individuals and invasion of the bacterium into the cerebrospinal fluid. The bacterium is capable of adhering to, and entering into, a range of human cell types, which facilitates its ability to cause disease. This article summarises the molecular basis of host–pathogen interactions at the cellular level during meningococcal carriage and disease.

scholarly journals Increase in meningococcal disease associated with the emergence of a novel ST-11 variant of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis in Victoria, Australia, 1999–2000

2002 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. TRIBE ◽  
A. M. ZAIA ◽  
J. M. GRIFFITH ◽  
P. M. ROBINSON ◽  
H. Y. LI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Dna Sequencing ◽  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Housekeeping Gene ◽  
Restriction Pattern ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Age Group ◽  
The Czech Republic

In the years 1999–2000, there was an increase in the incidence of meningococcal disease in Victoria, largely caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C. This change was associated with a shift in age distribution of cases, with relatively more disease appearing in the 15–29 year age group, and with 40/58 serogroup C isolates in 2000 exhibiting a new macrorestriction pattern (pattern A). Thirty-four of 52 pattern A isolates tested displayed the novel phenotype C:2a:P1.4, and were consistently porA VR type P1.7-2,4 by DNA sequencing. Nine of 10 representative pattern A isolates analysed displayed a housekeeping gene allele profile (ST-11) that is characteristic of the electrophoretic type (ET)-15 variant that has caused outbreaks in Canada, the Czech Republic and Greece. Meningococci belonging to the ST-11 complex that were isolated in Victoria prior to 1999 did not display either restriction pattern A or PorA VR type P1.7-2,4.

Apparent Meningococcemia: Clinical Features of Disease Due to Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-472
Author(s):  
Richard F. Jacobs ◽  
Steven Hsi ◽  
Christopher B. Wilson ◽  
Denis Benjamin ◽  
Arnold L. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
Neisseria Meningitidis ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Meningococcal Infection ◽  
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy ◽  
Etiologic Agents ◽  
Intravascular Coagulopathy ◽  
Time Of Admission ◽  
Mean Time

To determine the etiology of apparent meningococcemia, all cases of sepsis with coagulopathy, purpura, and/or adrenal hemorrhage (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) with and without shock occurring over a 12-year period were reviewed. A total of 42 cases were identified; 30 cases were caused by Neisseria meningitidis and 12 cases were caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Compared with patients with disease caused by H influenzae, patients with meningococcal disease were older, more often male, more often contracted the disease in winter-spring, and had a longer duration of antecedent symptoms; however, none of these differences was statistically significant. All patients were febrile (&gt;38°C) and appeared toxic. Similar proportions in each group had shock and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy at the time of admission. Ten of 12 patients with H influenzae infection compared with 15/30 (P &lt; .05) with meningococcal infection were lethargic or comatose at the time of admission. Nine of 12 patients with H influenzae infection died compared with 5/30 with meningococcal disease (P &lt; .005); the mean time from onset of symptoms to death with H influenzae infection (20.7 ± 11.4 [SE] hours) was significantly shorter (P &lt; .05) than with meningococcal infection (120 ± 74.4 hours). Children with clinical signs of sepsis and with purpura, petechiae, or coagulopathy may have N meningitidis or H influenzae as etiologic agents. Initial antibiotic therapy should be directed against these pathogens.

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