Auxo-, sero-, and opa-typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Istanbul, Turkey.

BACKGROUND

Typing methods are essential in understanding of the transmission dynamics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Several typing methods were described including opa-typing.

GOALS: The goal of this study was to type all of the strains we isolated in the recent past by using auxo-, sero-, and opa-typing, and to compare the discriminatory power of these methods.

STUDY: Auxotyping, serotyping, and opa-typing were performed for 56 N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis.

RESULTS

A total of 9 auxotypes and 33 serovars were detected. Combining the 2 systems, a total of 45 distinct auxotype/serovar (A/S) classes were identified. The most common A/S class was NR/Bsty (5 strains). Fifty-five distinct patterns were detected by opa-typing. Two strains that have been isolated 16 months apart gave identical patterns with opa-typing and their A/S class was also identical (NR/Bsty). Simpson's index of diversity was found as 0.664, 0.961, 0.987, and 0.999 for auxotyping, serotyping, A/S class, and opa-typing, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Opa-typing is a potential useful method for typing N. gonorrhoeae as a result of its high discriminatory power, rapidity, ease and relatively lower cost.