Epidemiol Health.  2018;40:e2018058. 10.4178/epih.e2018058.

Emergence of Neisseria meningitidis W135 in Cote d'Ivoire: laboratory based-surveillance

• Soumahoro
• Kouamé-Elogne C
• Anné JC
• Noufé S
• N'Guessan
• Kacou-N'Douba A
• Hanslik T
• Dosso M

• KMID: 2438507
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2018058

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To describe the emergence of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) W135 in Côte d'Ivoire and its characteristics compared to NmA.
METHODS
Data on Nm samples isolated at the National Reference Center for meningitis in Côte d'Ivoire between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed. Socio-demographic data and biological information on the samples were extracted from the database. Categorical variables, such as sex and the serotype of the bacteria, were compared using the Fisher exact test, while the distribution of continuous variables, such as age, was compared using the Wilcoxon test.
RESULTS
Among the 175 Nm samples, 57 were NmA, 4 were NmB, 13 were NmC, and 99 were NmW135. The geographical distribution of NmA and NmW135 did not show a significant difference according to age or sex. NmW135 was more common than NmA in the northern health districts of Cote d'Ivoire (85.9 vs. 45.5%; p < 0.001). No sample of NmA has been isolated since 2009, while 95% of the type W135 samples were isolated between 2010 and 2012.
CONCLUSION
This study highlighted the emergence of NmW135 in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the simultaneous disappearance of NmA. It is important to improve laboratory-based surveillance of meningitis to assess trends in the circulation of bacteria and to detect the emergence of new serogroups earlier.

Keyword

Bacterial meningitis; Neisseria meningitidis; Public health surveillance; Cote d'Ivoire

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Cote d'Ivoire*
Meningitis
Meningitis, Bacterial
Neisseria meningitidis*
Neisseria*
Public Health Surveillance
Serogroup