Serological ecology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG and non-PPNG) strains: Canadian perspective.

Abstract

One hundred and thirty eight penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and 239 non-PPNG strains were characterised serologically using a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies directed against protein IA and seven against protein lB. An association between serovar and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, auxotype, and plasmid content was observed. Serogroup WI strains were more sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, cefoxitin, and cefuroxime. Sixty five (82%) of the 79 WI strains were typed as being serovar Aedgkih, and 47 (72%) of these strains required arginine, uracil, and hypoxanthine for growth (AUH-). Seventy one (44%) of 160 WII/WIII strains were serovar Bacejk, and 42 (59%) of these required proline, citrulline, and uracil for growth (PCU-) and were plasmid free. Serovars Bcgk, Beghjk, Bacjk, and Bajk were associated with resistance to antimicrobial agents. Analysis of PPNG isolates showed a new serovar, Af, which was associated with strains imported from Malaysia and Singapore that required proline and omithine for growth (Pro-Orn-) and carried the 24.5 megadalton transfer plasmid, the 2*6 megadalton cryptic plasmid, and the 4.5 megadalton penicillinase producing plasmid. Other associations between serovar and geographical location were noted.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and implications for epidemiology and therapy

“…In several studies, other 1-lactams such as cefmetazole (26), cefotetan (59), and cefuroxime (40) showed diminished in vitro potency for CMRNG compared with penicillin-susceptible strains. In some cases, there was a weaker association between the MIC of penicillin and those of spectinomycin and tetracycline (61).…”

“…Since 1976, the PPNG phenotype has been found in most countries, and it has been associated with many different serotypes and auxotypes. For example, in a 1987 Canadian survey (26), 138 PPNG phenotypes were distributed among 14 different serovars, several auxotypes, and several plasmid profiles. This reflects both strain geographic dispersion and sharing of plasmids among strains.…”

Beta-lactamase plasmids and chromosomally mediated antibiotic resistance in pathogenic Neisseria species

“…CHROMOSOMAL RESISTANCE In retrospective studies of N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated in the prepenicillin era (i.e., before 1944), many isolates were V-LACTAMASE PLASMIDS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE S129 (13,18,19,34). Chromosomal resistance to one antibiotic often reduced the efficacy of other unrelated antimicrobial agents by virtue of cross-resistance to them (34,46,68).…”

Genetic Diversity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Housekeeping Genes

“…A number of typing methods have been developed for N. gonorrhoeae based on growth requirements for specific nutrients and cofactors (1), antibiotic sensitivity (3,20), differences in electrophoretic mobility of bacterial enzymes (17), and serological reactivity against surface antigens (12). The introduction of PCR and high-throughput nucleotide sequencing has led to the development of several DNA-based typing methods.…”