Molecular population genetic analysis of Campylobacter jejuni HS:19 associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome and gastroenteritis.

ABSTRACT

Infection with Campylobacter jejuni serotype HS19 is associated with the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). To determine whether a particular HS19 clone is associated with GBS, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) was used to analyze a worldwide collection of isolates. There were 34 electropherotypes (ETs) in 3 phylogenetic clusters among 83 C. jejuni isolates. Cluster I contained all HS19 strains, and a single ET (ET4) accounted for most HS19 strains. HS19 strains did not occur in any of the other clusters. ET4 contained isolates from different geographic locations, indicating global spread of this clone. Furthermore, ET4 contained isolates from patients with uncomplicated enteritis and GBS, as well as isolates from animal sources. The results of this study show that HS19 strains comprise a clonal, although not monomorphic, population, which is distinct from non-HS19 strains within C. jejuni. A unique clone associated with GBS was not identified by use of MLEE.