HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MOYO, S. R. Articles by BERGH, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MOYO, S. R. Articles by BERGH, K. Agricola Articles by MOYO, S. R. Articles by BERGH, K.

Typing of human isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) strains from Zimbabwe

Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe and *Department of Microbiology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Corresponding author: Professor J. A. Maeland (e-mail: Johan.Meland{at}medisin.ntnu.no).

Received 30 Oct. 2001; revised version received 13 Feb. 2002; accepted 14 Feb. 2002.

Abstract

Serotyping and genotyping are important tools in epidemiological studies of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections, which are important diseases in man, particularly in newborns. In the present study, 241 GBS isolates from Zimbabwe, comprising 124 carrier isolates from pregnant women and 117 isolates from patients hospitalised for various diseases, were serotyped. Antibodies specific for the capsular polysaccharide antigens (CPAs) Ia, Ib and II–V and antibodies specific for the surface-localised proteins, c, c^ß, R1, R3 and R4 were used for serotyping. Strains of the CPA types Ia (17%), III (47.7%) and V (23.2%) predominated. Of the various protein antigens, c and R4 were expressed with highest frequency, c by 100% of the CPA type Ia strains and R4 by 92% of the CPA type III strains. The R3 protein occurred frequently (24%), especially in type V strains (84%). A total of 25 serovariants was detected in the strain collection with the variants Ia/c (16%), III/R4 (43.5%) and V/c, R3 (14.1%) occurring with the highest frequency. Serotype and subtype distribution of the carrier isolates were essentially similar to those of the disease-associated isolates. Genomic heterogeneity was demonstrated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of type III/R4 and type V/c, R3 isolates, but to a much lesser extent than recorded with Norwegian strains. These results demonstrate that many variants of GBS occur in the Zimbabwean population. The data obtained may assist in the formulation of a possible future GBS vaccine for Zimbabwe and perhaps for other African countries.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. T. Mavenyengwa, J. A. Maeland, and S. R. Moyo Putative Novel Surface-Exposed Streptococcus agalactiae Protein Frequently Expressed by the Group B Streptococcus from Zimbabwe Clin. Vaccine Immunol., September 1, 2009; 16(9): 1302 - 1308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Brochet, E. Couve, R. Bercion, J.-M. Sire, and P. Glaser Population Structure of Human Isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae from Dakar and Bangui J. Clin. Microbiol., March 1, 2009; 47(3): 800 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. T. Mavenyengwa, J. A. Maeland, and S. R. Moyo Distinctive Features of Surface-Anchored Proteins of Streptococcus agalactiae Strains from Zimbabwe Revealed by PCR and Dot Blotting Clin. Vaccine Immunol., September 1, 2008; 15(9): 1420 - 1424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Kong, L. M. Lambertsen, H.-C. Slotved, D. Ko, H. Wang, and G. L. Gilbert Use of Phenotypic and Molecular Serotype Identification Methods To Characterize Previously Nonserotypeable Group B Streptococci J. Clin. Microbiol., August 1, 2008; 46(8): 2745 - 2750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. H. Ekin and K. Gurturk Characterization of bovine and human group B streptococci isolated in Turkey. J. Med. Microbiol., May 1, 2006; 55(Pt 5): 517 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Maeland, L. Bevanger, and R. V. Lyng Immunological Markers of the R4 Protein of Streptococcus agalactiae Clin. Vaccine Immunol., November 1, 2005; 12(11): 1305 - 1310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Maeland, L. Bevanger, and R. V. Lyng Antigenic Determinants of Alpha-Like Proteins of Streptococcus agalactiae Clin. Vaccine Immunol., November 1, 2004; 11(6): 1035 - 1039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-L. Thong, G. Y. Ling, L. W. Kong, L. C. Theam, and Y. F. Ngeow Macrorestriction analysis of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus) isolates from Malaysia J. Med. Microbiol., October 1, 2004; 53(10): 991 - 997. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Ekelund, H.-C. Slotved, H. U. Nielsen, M. S. Kaltoft, and H. B. Konradsen Emergence of Invasive Serotype VIII Group B Streptococcal Infections in Denmark J. Clin. Microbiol., September 1, 2003; 41(9): 4442 - 4444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]