Endotoxin Release from Invasive Meningococci Related to Sulfonamide Resistance, Serogroup and Serotype

Abstract

The relationship between endotoxin liberation, sulfonamide resistance, serogroups and serotypes was studied in 28 Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from patients with meningococcal disease. Sulfonamide resistance was present in 15/28 strains. 22 strains belonged to serogroup B, and 5 to group C; 1 strain was non-groupable. Free endotoxin activity in growing cultures of meningococci with endotoxin titre of ≥10² was found in 27/28 strains. A high endotoxin activity was present in both sulfonamide-sensitive and -resistant invasive meningococci. A high endotoxin release with titre ≥10³ seemed to be more associated with serogroup C than B, and more to the serotypes 2 and 15/16 than to the non-typable strains.