Since 2015 in the United States (US), the US Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) has caused a large multistate outbreak of urethritis among heterosexual males. Its 'parent' strain caused numerous outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease among men who have sex with men in Europe and North America. We highlight the arrival and dissemination of US_NmUC in the United Kingdom and the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance. Surveillance systems should be developed that include anogenital meningococci

Borrow, R

Brooks, A

Campbell, H

Campbell, L

Fifer, H

Gray, S

Hughes, G

Ladhani, SN

Lekshmi, A

Lucidarme, J

Ramsay, ME

Rayment, M

Schembri, G

English

Brooks, Avril

Lucidarme, Jay

Campbell, Helen

Campbell, Laura

Fifer, Helen

Gray, Steve

Hughes, Gwenda

Lekshmi, Aiswarya

Schembri, Gabriel

Rayment, Michael

Ladhani, Shamez N

Ramsay, Mary E

Borrow, Ray

LSHTM Research Online

1www.eurosurveillance.orgRapid communicationDetection of the United States Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade in the United Kingdom, August and December 2019 – emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance calls for vigilanceAvril Brooks1 , Jay Lucidarme2 , Helen Campbell³ , Laura Campbell¹ , Helen Fifer⁴ , Steve Gray² , Gwenda Hughes⁴ , Aiswarya Lekshmi² , Gabriel Schembri⁵ , Michael Rayment⁶ , Shamez N Ladhani3,7 , Mary E Ramsay³ , Ray Borrow²1. Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom2. Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Public Health England, Manchester, United Kingdom3. Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom4. Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections & HIV Division, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom5. The Northern Integrated Contraception, Sexual Health & HIV Service, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom6. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom7. Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s University of London, London, United KingdomCorrespondence: Jay Lucidarme (jay.lucidarme@phe.gov.uk)Citation style for this article: Brooks Avril , Lucidarme Jay , Campbell Helen , Campbell Laura , Fifer Helen , Gray Steve , Hughes Gwenda , Lekshmi Aiswarya , Schembri Gabriel , Rayment Michael , Ladhani Shamez N , Ramsay Mary E , Borrow Ray . Detection of the United States Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade in the United Kingdom, August and December 2019 – emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance calls for vigilance. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(15):pii=2000375. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.15.2000375 Article submitted on 20 Mar 2020 / accepted on 15 Apr 2020 / published 16 Apr 2020Since 2015 in the United States (US), the US Neisseria meningitidis  urethritis clade (US_NmUC) has caused a large multistate outbreak of urethritis among het-erosexual males. Its ‘parent’ strain caused numerous outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease among men who have sex with men in Europe and North America. We highlight the arrival and dissemination of US_NmUC in the United Kingdom and the emer-gence of multiple antibiotic resistance. Surveillance systems should be developed that include anogenital meningococci.From 2015, the United States (US) has experienced a large multistate outbreak of meningococcal urethri-tis among predominantly heterosexual males due to a novel non-serogroupable strain - the US  Neisseria meningitidis  urethritis clade (US_NmUC) [1]. As a pre-caution, in November 2018, Public Health England extended meningococcal surveillance to include ano-genital meningococci retrieved from adults attend-ing four sexual health clinics in London and four in Manchester. Among 72 isolates collected from sympto-matic or NAAT-positive sexual health clinic attendees during 2019, two were found to belong to the US_NmUC strain. Here we describe the United Kingdom (UK) cases and corresponding isolates in the context of the US experience and consider the implications going forward. Isolation and phylogenetic analysisThe UK US_NmUC isolates were collected in Manchester (August 2019) and London (December 2019), respec-tively. They were both non-serogroupable with geno-type P1.5–1,10–8:F3–6:ST-11 (cc11). Draft genomes were submitted to the PubMLST  Neisseria  database (IDs 72327 and 72325, respectively). Both were from rectal swabs from HIV-negative white British men who have sex with men (MSM) in their thirties/forties who reported unprotected oral and anal sex with three to six partners in the 3 months before being diagnosed. Both were users of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). There were no co-infections with gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV or syphilis. In addition, hepatitis B and C were ruled out in Manchester and  Mycoplasma genitalium  was ruled out in London. The London case had no history of travel in the previous 3 months. No recent travel was documented for the Manchester case, however, this did not form part of the sexual history. The case from Manchester was asymptomatic and had been success-fully treated for gonococcal infection of the rectum 3 months prior (ceftriaxone 1 g, as per national guide-lines [2]). The case from London had a 5-day history of rectal discharge and pain. On examination, proctos-copy was normal and microscopy showed mucus only. Neither patient had symptoms of urethritis. There were no known links between the patients.On a phylogenetic analysis including 209 US US_NmUC isolates, obtained between 2013 and 2016 [1], the UK isolates formed a monophyletic clade suggesting a 2 www.eurosurveillance.orgsingle introduction into the UK and subsequent dissem-ination (Figure). Both isolates were sensitive to cefotax-ime and resistant to penicillin (MIC 0.38 mg/L) with the same  penA  allele (allele 316; reduced susceptibility-associated mutations F504L, A510V, I515V, H541N, I566V) as the US isolates. The isolate from London was resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC 0.38 mg/L) having acquired part of a gonococcal DNA gyrase (gyrA) gene. It had also acquired a frameshifted gonococcal malt-ose phosphorylase gene making it unable to utilise maltose and giving it a carbohydrate utilisation profile more typically associated with gonococci (glucose pos-itive (+), maltose negative (-), sucrose negative (-), lactose negative (-)). Both UK US_NmUC isolates pos-sessed the same gonococcal  aniA  and  norB  alleles as the majority (196/209) of the US isolates [1]. Separate searches of the PubMLST Neisseria database (accessed 30/03/20) for all non-serogroupable cc11 genomes > 1 million base pairs (Mbp) (n = 247) and serogroup not stated cc11 genomes > 1 Mbp (n = 515) yielded 215 US_NmUC genomes all of which were from the US (n = 213) or the UK (n = 2) (data not shown). Discussion and conclusionsNeisseria meningitidis  is principally a harmless commensal of the oropharynx and is carried by ca 10% of the population at any time. Very rarely, meningococci cause invasive disease including meningitis and/or sepsis. Diverse meningococci have also been reported to infect the anogenital tract, albeit rarely, with or without clinically indistinguishable gonorrhoea-like symptoms such as urethritis, cervicitis or proctitis [3]. The association of the US_NmUC strain with urethritis represents a marked shift from this general diversity. In the US, in one clinic, it accounted for ca 20% of all Gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococci on urethral culture from men [4]. It has also caused recurrent epi-sodes of urethritis [5], neonatal conjunctivitis [6] and, despite being acapsulate, at least five cases of inva-sive disease, although the immune status of these patients was not reported [1]. The strain has been reported to be susceptible to ceftriaxone, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin and to have intermediate suscepti-bility to penicillin [4,6]. The US_NmUC strain exhibits several gonococcus-like adaptations to the anogen-tial niche, including the ability to grow anaerobically having acquired gonococcal  aniA  and  norB  genes concerned with nitrite metabolism. The permanent lack of a capsule is due to the deletion of several capsule synthesis genes, including part of the serogroup C determinant gene [7].The US_NmUC strain emerged around the year 2011 and forms part of a broader, predominantly serogroup C strain (PorA subtype P1.5–1,10–8: ST-11 complex) that, as well as causing invasive disease within the general community, has caused multiple outbreaks of serogroup C invasive disease among MSM in Europe and North America [8-10]. Phylogenetically, the isolates responsible for community cases and MSM outbreaks were broadly interspersed [11], however, discrete Figure Neighbor-Net phylogenetic network analysis of United States (US) (n = 209) and United Kingdom (n = 2) US Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) isolates10.0Non-US_NmUC reference isolateUS US_NmUC isolateUK US_NmUC isolateUK: United Kingdom; US: United States; US_NmUC: US Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade.The US US_NmUC isolates [1] formed two sub-strains. The UK isolates (PubMLST IDs 72325 and 72327) formed a monophyletic clade close to the evolutionarily more recent sub-strain as indicated by the relative position of the non-US_NmUC reference genome (M21273; PubMLST ID 47235). The reference genome (P1.5–1,10–8:F3–6: ST-2724 (cc11) is the complete circular genome of a closely related non-US_NmUC invasive serogroup C isolate and provided a reference for several aspects of the study by Retchless and colleagues [1] including the estimation of an evolutionary timeline for the US_NmUC strain [1]. In the present study, genomes were compared gene-by-gene in terms of 1,605 core genes using the PubMLST genome comparator tool [17]. The distance matrix generated was visualised using SplitsTree4 [18]. The scale bar represents the number of different loci among the 1,605 loci compared.3www.eurosurveillance.orgclustering of invasive MSM isolates and non-US_NmUC urethritis and proctitis isolates has been reported. Furthermore, all but one of the corresponding isolates had acquired an active  aniA  gene of meningococcal origin, in contrast to the gonococcal  aniA  of the US_NmUC strain [12]. Interestingly, the non-US_NmUC urethritis/proctitis isolates, like gonococci, did not express factor H-binding protein (fHbp) due to disrup-tion of the fhbp gene. All but one of the invasive MSM isolates, meanwhile, retained their ability to express fHbp which is important for survival within the blood stream and, therefore, their ability to cause invasive disease [12]. Concerningly, the broader strain has a demonstrated propensity to escape both capsular and subcapsular meningococcal vaccines [13].Implications of the emergence of meningococci adapted to the anogenital nicheAside from re-occurring invasive disease outbreaks among MSM, the association of this broad strain with sexual transmission, and its adaptation to the anogeni-tal niche, pose several threats. Widespread acquisition of gonococcal DNA by US_NmUC strain isolates has already been demonstrated [1], raising the prospect of further acquisition of gonococcal antibiotic resistance determinants, as has now been observed with one of the UK isolates. Such genes may be passed onto more-typical meningococci, including hypervirulent lineages that typically reside within the oropharynx. Congenital complement deficiencies, excluding mannose-binding lectin deficiency, are estimated to affect approximately 0.03% of the general population [14] and increase the risk of invasive meningococcal disease by up to 10,000-fold. Similarly, the terminal complement pathway inhibitor, eculizumab, which is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, is associated with up to 2,000-fold increased incidence of invasive menin-gococcal disease. This includes disease caused by unencapsulated strains, such as the US_NmUC strain, that would not normally cause disease in healthy indi-viduals [15]. These individuals are recommended to receive meningococcal vaccination and long-term peni-cillin prophylaxis [16]. To account for the existence of relatively rare penicillin-resistant strains, ciprofloxa-cin may also be prescribed as a back-up should the patient experience symptoms of invasive meningo-coccal disease. The emergence of resistance to both penicillin and ciprofloxacin in one of the UK US_NmUC isolates, coupled with a propensity to escape licenced meningococcal vaccines is, therefore, very concerning. More generally, penicillin is prescribed in emergency situations when invasive meningococcal disease is suspected and ciprofloxacin is used as post-exposure prophylaxis to clear nasopharyngeal carriage.A call for vigilanceThis is the first report of the US_NmUC strain outside of the US. Although the numbers are low, it is notewor-thy that the strain has, thus far, only been observed in MSM in the UK rather than in heterosexual males, as was predominantly the case in the US. The increas-ing burden of gonorrhoea and emerging resistance to last-line antibiotics is already a major global threat and meningococci could follow the same trajectory. In the UK, presumptive gonorrhoea, as indicated by clini-cal features and Gram stain, is prescribed on-the-day anti-gonococcal treatment and partner notification is initiated [2]. Immediately-indistinguishable meningo-coccal infections presenting as such will also be cov-ered by anti-gonococcal treatment, however, patients subsequently found to culture only meningococci (at least 24 hours later) would not usually be recalled, partner notification would not be done post-hoc, and a test of cure would not be done. Thus, if the UK and countries further afield are to avoid an outbreak simi-lar to that seen in the US, more intensive management and follow up as per gonococcal disease may be indi-cated. Clinicians, microbiologists and public health teams, therefore need to remain vigilant and consider developing surveillance systems to include anogenital meningococci.AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank the staff at the Public Health England Meningococcal Reference Unit and Charing Cross Hospital microbiology laboratory, especially Sejal Shah, Nilmini Wijesooriya, Pedro Tijerino, Manfred Almeida and Sweenie Goonesekera.Conflict of interestAB, LC, HC, HF, GS, MR, GH and MER have no person-al competing interests. PHE National Infection Service, Immunisation and Countermeasures Division has provided vaccine manufacturers with post-marketing surveillance reports which the Marketing Authorisation Holders are re-quired to submit to the UK Licensing authority in compliance with their Risk Management Strategy. A cost recovery charge is made for these reports. SL performs contract work on be-half of St George’s university of London for GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur. RB, JL, AL and SG perform contract research on behalf of Public Health England for GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur.Authors’ contributionsLaboratory work was performed by AB and AL. Genetic anal-yses were performed by AB and JL. All of the authors partici-pated in the drafting and critical revision of the manuscript.References1. Retchless AC, Kretz CB, Chang HY, Bazan JA, Abrams AJ, Norris Turner A, et al. 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Bioinformatics. 1998;14(1):68-73.  https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/14.1.68  PMID: 9520503License, supplementary material and copyrightThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence. You may share and adapt the material, but must give appropriatecredit to the source, provide a link to the licence and indicate if changes were made. Any supplementary material referenced in the article can be found in the online version.This article is copyright of the authors or their affiliated in-stitutions, 2020.

Detection of the United States Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade in the United Kingdom, August and December 2019 - emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance calls for vigilance.

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Detection of the United States Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade in the United Kingdom, August and December 2019 - emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance calls for vigilance.

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