Subtyping of High-Level Plasmid-Mediated Tetracycline Resistant Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Isolated in Scotland between 1992 and 1998

Abstract

Tetracycline resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (TRNG) contain a 25.2 MDa TetM plasmid encoding a 68 KDa cytoplasmic protein which confers high-level tetracycline resistance. The aim of this study was to subtype all TRNG isolated in Scotland between 1992 and 1998. Subtyping was performed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay which characterizes the TetM plasmid as either the Dutch variant (443 base pair product) or the American variant (777 base pair product). Of the 78 TRNG isolates, 35 were the American variant and 43 were the Dutch variant. TRNG were distributed amongst 30 serovar/auxotype classes, the most common being 1A6/NR (11.5%), 1A6/P (14.1%) and 1B4/NR (14.1%). The country where infection was acquired was known for 36 of the 46 TRNG strains isolated between 1996 and 1998. All infections acquired in Asia and South America were the Dutch variant whereas all infections acquired in Africa were the American variant. A penicillinase plasmid was present in 66% (23/35) of the American variant TRNG compared with 51% (22/43) of the Dutch variant: the 3.2 MDa penicillinase plasmid was found in 87% of the American variant TRNG whereas the 4.4 MDa penicillinase plasmid was found in 68% of the Dutch variant TRNG. We conclude that subtyping of TRNG by PCR is a useful tool in studying the epidemiology of gonococcal infection due to plasmid-mediated resistant isolates.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring inNeisseria gonorrhoeaeand strategic use of funds from the Global Fund to set up a systematic Moroccan gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance programme

“…Tetracycline-resistant N gonorrhoeae were first reported in the USA in 1985 15. Tetracycline resistance, chromosomal and plasmid mediated, has increased and attained a high prevalence in many countries such as the USA,24 India, Thailand, Indonesia,25 26 Scotland, Rwanda and DRC 27. Despite this, tetracyclines remain important and effective agents in the treatment of other STIs, notably C trachomatis 15…”

One year of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Sweden: the prevalence study of antibiotic susceptibility shows relation to the geographic area of exposure

“…For this reason the antibiotic susceptibility pattern has to be studied for individual isolates as well as by surveillance studies 6,17,18 . The antibiotic susceptibility varies between different parts of the world with, for decades, special focus on antibiotic resistance in South-East Asia, which is in accordance with the results from the present study.…”

The Epidemiology of Gonorrhea Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Stockholm, Sweden, 1990–2004

“…Culture diagnosis with early and effective antibiotic treatment is a cornerstone in the control of gonorrhoea. For this reason the antibiotic susceptibility pattern has to be studied for individual isolates as well as by surveillance studies [102][103][104]. The antibiotic susceptibility varies between different parts of the world with, since decades, special focus on antibiotic resistance in South-East Asia.…”