Rapid emergence of a new clone impacts the population at risk and increases the incidence of type emm89 group A Streptococcus invasive disease

Sarah Teatero, Brenda L. Coleman, Stephen B. Beres, Randall J. Olsen, Christopher Kandel, Olivia Reynolds, Taryn B.T. Athey, James M. Musser, Allison McGeer, Nahuel Fittipaldi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease caused by type emm89 strains has been increasing worldwide, driven by the emergence of an epidemic clonal variant (clade 3 emm89). The clinical characteristics of patients with emm89 iGAS disease, and in particular with clade 3 emm89 iGAS disease, are poorly described. Methods. We used population-based iGAS surveillance data collected in metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the period 2000-2014. We sequenced the genomes of 105 emm89 isolates representing all emm89 iGAS disease cases in the area during the period and 138 temporally matched emm89 iGAS isolates collected elsewhere in Ontario. Results. Clades 1 and 2 and clade O, a newly discovered emm89 genetic variant, caused most cases of emm89 iGAS disease in metropolitan Toronto before 2008. After rapid emergence of new clade 3, previously circulating clades were purged from the population and the incidence of emm89 iGAS disease significantly increased from 0.14 per 100 000 in 2000-2007 to 0.22 per 100 000 in 2008-2014. Overall, emm89 organisms caused significantly more arthritis but less necrotizing fasciitis than strains of the more common type emm1. Other clinical presentations were soft tissue and severe respiratory tract infections. Clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between emm89 clades overall. However, clade 3 emm89 iGAS disease was more common in youth and middle-aged individuals. Conclusions. The rapid shift in emm89 iGAS strain genetics in metropolitan Toronto has resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of emm89 iGAS disease, with noticeably higher rates of clade 3 disease in younger patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberofx042
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • Emerging strain genotype
  • Group A Streptococcus
  • Invasive disease
  • Populations at risk
  • Whole-genome sequencing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rapid emergence of a new clone impacts the population at risk and increases the incidence of type emm89 group A Streptococcus invasive disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this