Hypervirulent Clone of Group B Streptococcus Serotype III Sequence Type 283, Hong Kong, 1993-2012

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Oct;22(10):1800-3. doi: 10.3201/eid2210.151436.

Abstract

We describe a hypervirulent clone of group B Streptococcus serotype III, subtype 4, sequence type 283, that caused invasive disease with a predilection for meningitis in Hong Kong during 1993-2012. The organism is associated with high mortality and increased summer prevalence and is linked to diseased fish from freshwater fish farms.

Keywords: Group B Streptococcus; Hong Kong; bacteria; clone; fish disease; hypervirulent; meningitis; newborns; serotype III-4/ST283; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Fish Diseases / microbiology
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Humidity
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Seasons
  • Serotyping
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / classification*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / genetics
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / pathogenicity
  • Temperature
  • Virulence
  • Young Adult