A study of the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and itsmolecular characterization in Tehran, Iran

Background and Aim : Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an important global public health concern dueto increasing rates of diagnosis. Molecular epidemiology data is used to understand the distributionand spread of N. gonorrhoeae as well as the relationships between cases in sexual networks. Thisstudy was performed to prevalence and molecular epidemiology of N. gonorrhoeae isolates inTehran, Iran.Methods : We collected ۵۰۰ urogenital swabs (۴۶۸ endocervical, ۳۲ urethral) from patientspresenting to two women's hospitals and one health center in central and south Tehran with signsand symptoms of genitourinary infections between ۱ July ۲۰۱۸ and ۳۰ July ۲۰۲۰. A culture of thespecimens was performed, and the isolates were analyzed for the presence of N. gonorrhoeaeisolates by biochemical tests. NG-MAST (Neisseria gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing)was also performed.Results : Patient data: The most common clinical symptoms in females were vaginal discharge(۲۷۶/ ۴۶۸, ۵۸%), and nearly a quarter (۷/۳۲, ۲۱.۸%) of males had dysuria. Isolation of Neisseriagonorrhoeae: A total of ۳۸ N. gonorrhoeae isolates were identified. The patients from which theisolates were cultured comprised ۱/۳۲ (۳%) male patients and ۳۷/۴۶۸ (۷.۶۹%). Neisseriagonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST): A total of ۲۵ NG-MAST sequence types(STs) were identified. There were ۱–۴ isolates in each ST, and ST۲۶۶ (n = ۴) was the mostprevalent ST. Overall, one ST was represented by four isolates, one ST by three isolates, eight STsby two isolates, and ۱۵ STs by single isolates. Out of ۳۸ STs, ۱۱ (۲۹%) novel STs were identified.Conclusion : These findings suggest a high prevalence of gonorrhoea in at-risk patients visitingour hospitals and health centers. Our study reflects a highly diverse gonococcal population inTehran. Combining molecular and epidemiological data provides insight into the spread of thispathogen.

کلیدواژه ها:

Neisseria gonorrhoeae ، Neisseria gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing ، sexuallytransmitted infections