Capsular Switching in Invasive Neisseria meningitidis, Brazil

Abstract

During the 1990s, an epidemic of B:4 Neisseria meningitidis infections affected Brazil. Subsequent increase in C:4 disease suggested B→C capsular switching. This study identified B→C switches within the sequence type 32 complex. Substantial disease related to capsular switching emphasizes the need for surveillance of circulating meningococcal strains to optimize disease control.

Keywords

• Meningococcal infections
• Neisseria meningitides
• capsular switching
• serogroup C
• ST-32/ET-5 complex
• bacteria