Diversity of Neisseria meningitidis invasive isolates in Italy in the period 2008-2010.

ABSTRACT

In the period 2008-2010, 309 Neisseria meningitidis, isolated in Italy within the National Surveillance of the Invasive Meningococcal Diseases, have been tested for their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The main results obtained are (a) an increase of the strains of serogroup B and a decrease of serogroup C; (b) a phenotypic and genotypic variability of the ST-41/44 clonal complex, the most frequently isolated among serogroup B strains; (c) a decrease of ST-8 clonal complex among serogroup C meningococci whereas strains belonging to ST-11 clonal complex are nowadays the most frequently isolated.