Takahashi H, Morita M, Yasuda M, Ohama Y, Kobori Y, Kojima M, Shimuta K, Akeda Y, Ohnishi M. Detection of Novel US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade Subtypes in Japan.
Emerg Infect Dis 2023;
29:2210-2217. [PMID:
37877502 PMCID:
PMC10617353 DOI:
10.3201/eid2911.231082]
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Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis causes invasive meningococcal diseases and has also been identified as a causative agent of sexually transmitted infections, including urethritis. Unencapsulated sequence type 11 meningococci containing the gonococcal aniA-norB locus and belonging to the United States N. meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) are causative agents of urethral infections in the United States, predominantly among men who have sex with men. We identified 2 subtypes of unencapsulated sequence type 11 meningococci in Japan that were phylogenetically close to US_NmUC, designated as the Japan N. meningitidis urethritis clade (J_NmUC). The subtypes were characterized by PCR, serologic testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Our study suggests that an ancestor of US_NmUC and J_NmUS urethritis-associated meningococci is disseminated worldwide. Global monitoring of urethritis-associated N. meningitidis isolates should be performed to further characterize microbiologic and epidemiologic characteristics of urethritis clade meningococci.
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