Emerging Infectious Diseases (Nov 2024)

Invasive Group A Streptococcus Hypervirulent M1UK Clone, Canada, 2018–2023

  • Alyssa R. Golden,
  • Averil Griffith,
  • Gregory J. Tyrrell,
  • Julianne V. Kus,
  • Allison McGeer,
  • Marc-Christian Domingo,
  • Jennifer Grant,
  • Jessica Minion,
  • Paul Van Caeseele,
  • Guillaume Desnoyers,
  • David Haldane,
  • Yang Yu,
  • Xiaofeng Ding,
  • Laura Steven,
  • Jan McFadzen,
  • Courtney Primeau,
  • Irene Martin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3011.241068
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 11
pp. 2409 – 2413

Abstract

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To determine invasive group A Streptococcus trends in Canada, we characterized emm1 isolates collected during 2018–2023. The percentage of hypervirulent M1UK lineage isolates increased significantly, from 22.1% in 2018 to 60.2% in 2023. Genomic analysis identified geographically and temporally associated clusters and genes associated with virulent bacteriophage acquisition.

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