Molecular characterization of plasmid content of penicillinase-and non-penicillinase-producing neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and its epidemiologic correlate

ABSTRACT

A total number of 40 gonococcal strains isolated from patients were classified according to the production of beta-Iactamase [penicillinase] enzyme into 32 penicillinase-producing [PPNG] and 8 non- penicillinase-producing [non-PPNG] strains. Plasmid DNA was extracted from all 32 PPNG strains and 7 non-PPNG strains and was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty three PPNG strains showed an identical. plasmid profile composed of 3 different plasmid species having masses of 2.6-, 24.5, and 24.5 - Md, 5 PPNG strains carried only the 2.6- and 4.5- Md plasmid, whereas the remaining 4 PPNG strains harboured a 3.2- Md plasmid in addition to the 2.6- Md plasmid. Out of the 8 non-PPNG strains 7 carried the 2.6- Md plasmid, but only 1 carried the 24.5- Md plasmid in addition and I was plasmid- free. Epidemiologically, it was found that 20 [83%] of the 24 PPNG strains isolated from patients who contracted the gonococcal infection in the Far East carried the 3 different plasmids 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5- Md, thus all contained the 4.5- Md [Asia] plasmid. The 4 PPNG strains isolated from men who contracted infection in Moroco contained the 2.6-Md plus the 3.2-Md [Africa] plasmid. On the other hand, the 4 PPNG strains isolated from men returning from Turkey had 2 different plasmid profiles, 3 strains carried the 3 different plasmid 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5-Md and 1 strain carried the 2 different plasmids 2.6, and 4.5- MD