Triplex Direct Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes.

The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method presented in this study allows the identification of pneumococcal capsular serotypes in cerebrospinal fluid without first performing DNA extraction. This testing approach, which saves time and resources, demonstrated similar sensitivity and a high level of agreement between cycle threshold values when it was compared side-by-side with the standard qPCR method with extracted DNA.

Field Evaluation of the Performance of Two Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Meningitis in Niger and Burkina Faso.

New lateral flow tests for the diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) (serogroups A, C, W, X, and Y), MeningoSpeed, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), PneumoSpeed, developed to support rapid outbreak detection in Africa, have shown good performance under laboratory conditions. We conducted an independent evaluation of both tests under field conditions in Burkina Faso and Niger, in 2018-2019. The tests were performed in the cerebrospinal fluid of suspected meningitis cases from health centers in alert districts and compared to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests performed at national reference laboratories (NRLs). Health staff were interviewed about feasibility. A total of 327 cases were tested at the NRLs, with 26% confirmed Nm (NmC 63% and NmX 37%) and 8% Sp. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 95% (95% CI: 89-99) and 90% (95% CI: 86-94) for Nm and 92% (95% CI: 75-99) and 99% (95% CI: 97-100) for Sp. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 77% (95% CI: 68-85) and 98% (95% CI: 95-100) for Nm and 86% (95% CI: 67-96) and 99% (95% CI: 98-100) for Sp. Concordance showed 82% agreement for Nm and 97% for Sp. Interviewed staff evaluated the tests as easy to use and to interpret and were confident in their readings. Results suggest overall good performance of both tests and potential usefulness in meningitis outbreak detection.

Identification of Streptococcus suis Meningitis by Direct Triplex Real-Time PCR, Burkina Faso.

Meningitis confirmation in Burkina Faso uses PCR for detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Hemophilus influenzae. We identified 38 cases of meningitis among 590 that were PCR-positive for 3 nonpneumococcal streptococcal pathogens, including 21 cases of Streptococcus suis. Among the country's 13 regions, 10 had S. suis-positive cases.

Meningococcal carriage 7 years after introduction of a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine in Burkina Faso: results from four cross-sectional carriage surveys.

BACKGROUND: In the first 2 years after a nationwide mass vaccination campaign of 1-29-year-olds with a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac) in Burkina Faso, carriage and disease due to serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis were nearly eliminated. We aimed to assess the long-term effect of MenAfriVac vaccination on meningococcal carriage and herd immunity. METHODS: We did four cross-sectional studies of meningococcal carriage in people aged 9 months to 36 years in two districts of Burkina Faso between May 2, 2016, and Nov 6, 2017. Demographic information and oropharyngeal swabs were collected. Meningococcal isolates were characterised using whole-genome sequencing. FINDINGS: Of 14 295 eligible people, 13 758 consented and had specimens collected and laboratory results available, 1035 of whom were meningococcal carriers. Accounting for the complex survey design, prevalence of meningococcal carriage was 7·60% (95% CI 5·67-9·52), including 6·98% (4·86-9·11) non-groupable, 0·48% (0·01-0·95) serogroup W, 0·10% (0·01-0·18) serogroup C, 0·03% (0·00-0·80) serogroup E, and 0% serogroup A. Prevalence ranged from 5·44% (95% CI 4·18-6·69) to 9·14% (6·01-12·27) by district, from 4·67% (2·71-6·64) to 11·17% (6·75-15·59) by round, and from 3·39% (0·00-8·30) to 10·43% (8·08-12·79) by age group. By clonal complex, 822 (88%) of 934 non-groupable isolates were CC192, all 83 (100%) serogroup W isolates were CC11, and nine (69%) of 13 serogroup C isolates were CC10217. INTERPRETATION: Our results show the continued effect of MenAfriVac on serogroup A meningococcal carriage, for at least 7 years, among vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts. Carriage prevalence of epidemic-prone serogroup C CC10217 and serogroup W CC11 was low. Continued monitoring of N meningitidis carriage will be crucial to further assess the effect of MenAfriVac and inform the vaccination strategy for future multivalent meningococcal vaccines. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.