Enhancing meningococcal genomic surveillance in the meningitis belt using high-resolution culture-free whole genome sequencing

We implemented a high-resolution, culture-free whole genome sequencing approach on 399 clinical specimens collected between 2017-2019 from meningococcal meningitis cases in 6 African countries to enhance genomic surveillance in the region. About 50% of specimens were successfully sequenced. Three major clonal complexes were identified: CC11 associated with serogroup W, CC181 associated with serogroup X and the emerging CC10217 associated with serogroup C, which continues to rise as a predominant clonal complex in the region. As the genomic analysis of clinical specimens is becoming cheaper and more accessible, genomic surveillance of meningococcal meningitis can be further improved using culture free methods to increase data representativeness, especially for countries with low culture rate.