{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Temporal variations in the serogroup distribution of invasive meningococcal disease in Quebec, Canada, due to emerging unique clade of serogroup Y strain belonging to the Sequence Type-23 clonal complex.
{Author}: Tsang RSW;Deceuninck G;Meilleur C;Zhou J;Lefebvre B;De Wals P;
{Journal}: J Infect
{Volume}: 88
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: 2024 Jun 24
{Factor}: 38.637
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106163
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To identify recent trends in invasive meningococcal diseases (IMD) in Quebec, Canada, with a focus on MenY cases and MenY strains.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>IMD cases and MenY strains from January 1, 2015 to August 11, 2023 were analyzed for clonal analysis and prediction of susceptibility to MenB vaccines. MenY strains of ST-23 CC from Quebec were analyzed with global MenY strains by core-genomic multi-locus sequence typing (cg-MLST).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Since 2015 the serogroup distribution of IMD in Quebec has shifted from predominantly MenB to mainly MenY, with most (80.9 %) of the latter belonging to ST-23 CC. The median age of MenY cases due to ST-23 CC were statistically younger than MenY cases due to non-ST-23 CC. MenY of ST-23 CC showed genetic diversity and the major genetic cluster were similar to the Swedish Y1 strain. The increase in invasive MenY disease in Quebec was due to a sub-clade of Lineage 23.1 which caused an elevated proportion of severe disease in young adults.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The increase in invasive MenY disease in Quebec, Canada was driven by the expansion of a sub-clade of Lineage 23.1 in young adults. Currently available quadrivalent A,C,W,Y-conjugate meningococcal vaccines were predicted to provide protection against these strains.