Abstract
We characterized 475 non-β-lactamase-producing gonococcal isolates from five U. S. cities by auxotype, serovar, and plasmid content to determine the frequency of isolates with the 24.5-Mdal gonococcal conjugative plasmid. A total of 150 (32%) of all isolates possessed the 24.5-Mdal plasmid; these isolates represented between 10% and 53% of isolates from each city. Isolates possessing the 24.5-Mdal plasmid belonged to 45 (56%) of 81 auxotype/serovar (A/S) classes, or between 24% and 70% of the A/S classes isolated in each city. Overall, a higher proportion of strains isolated in the southern cities possessed the 24.5-Mdal plasmid than did those from northeastern or northwestern cities. These strains appear to have spread independently of the spread of β-lactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae strains with the 24.5-Mdal conjugative plasmid has increased substantially and may have important implications for the epidemiology of gonorrhea caused by β-lactamase-pro- ducing strains.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 79-83 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Sexually transmitted diseases |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1989 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases