The genetic profile of a given strain of bacteria generated by a specific genotyping method can be as unique as a fingerprint. Information on the circulating invasive genotypes of Haemophilus influenzae in Northern Nigeria is unavailable in the literature. We aimed at determining the invasive genotypes of H. influenzae strains implicated with cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in parts of Northern Nigeria. The multilocus sequence typing scheme, a DNA sequencing-based genotyping method of sequencing segments of seven internal housekeeping genes was used. The PubMLST.org database and Bacterial Isolate Genome Sequence Database software was equally used.
The genetic profile of a given strain of bacteria generated by a specific genotyping method can be as unique as a fingerprint. However, information on the circulating invasive genotypes of Haemophilus influenzae in Northern Nigeria are unavailable in literature. We aimed at determining the invasive genotypes of H. influenzae strains implicated with cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in parts of Northern Nigeria. The multilocus sequence typing scheme developed for H. influenzae which is a DNA sequencing-based genotyping method of sequencing of segments of seven internal housekeeping genes was used. The PubMLST.org database and Bacterial Isolate Genome Sequence Database software were equally used. Of the 12 genotyped isolates, six (50 %) had detectable genotypes: genotype adk in two cases (16.7 %) found circulating amongst serotypes e (ecsH) and f (bexD); genotype fucK, two cases (16.7 %) amongst serotypes b (bcsB) and f (bexD); and genotype mdh in two cases (16.7 %) amongst serotypes b (bcsB) and e (ecsH). The three genotypes are now documented as invasive strains. Therefore, for a preventive vaccination programme against cerebrospinal meningitis caused by H. influenzae to be successful in Nigeria, these identified genotype strains should be included in the composition of the vaccines for administration.