SIAD PCR ELISA FOR CONFIRMATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SEROGROUP-Y ANDSEROGROUP-W135 MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Non-culture diagnosis and serogroup determination of meningococcal inf ection is important in contact management where vaccination may be pos sible. A serogroup B and C PCR ELISA assay for the non-culture diagnos is and serogroup determination has proved invaluable for enhanced epid emiological surveillance and contact management. A polymerase chain re action assay, based on a restriction fragment length polymorphism in t he meningococcal serogroup Y and W135 sialyltransferase (siaD) gene, w as developed to enhance the range of non-culture diagnosis of meningoc occal infection from clinical samples. The PCR assay was adapted to an ELISA format incorporating hybridisation with serogroup-specific Y an d W135 oligonucleotide probes. The serogroup-specific W135 and Y PCR E LISA is a useful addition to currently available serogroup B and C ass ay for non-culture diagnosis of meningococcal infection and outbreak i nvestigation. (C) 1998 Federation of European Microbiological Societie s. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.