Molecular Epidemiology of Meningococci Isolated in Niger in 2003 Shows Serogroup A Sequence Type (ST)-7 and Serogroup W135 ST-11 or ST-2881 Strains

Abstract
In 2003, in the Zinder and Maradi regions (Niger), epidemics were due to serogroup A:4:P1.9 meningococci belonging to sequence type 7 (ST-7). In Niamey, only sporadic cases were reported: 55% of the meningococcus strains were in serogroup A, and 38% were in serogroup W135 and could be placed in ST-11, identical to the 2002 Burkina Faso epidemic clone, and in ST-2881, a new ST.