Use of genomic fingerprinting in the characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Valencia, Spain.

Ninety-five Neisseria gonorrhoeae organisms isolated in Valencia, Spain, were characterized by antibiotic sensitivity testing, auxotyping, serotyping, plasmid analysis and restriction endonuclease fingerprinting (HindIII digestion). Cluster analysis of the restriction patterns revealed that 31 isolates (32.6%) formed 12 clearly defined clusters. Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains formed four of these groups. Eight groups of gonococcal strains were identified by auxotyping, although 83% of isolates belonged to two auxotypes (Proto, Pro-). Twenty-three different serovars were identified by serotyping. The serovar pattern IB/rop was found in 38% of isolates. A 60% coincidence was found between gonococcal groupings obtained by combination of auxotyping, serotyping and plasmid analysis and those obtained with the restriction enzyme fingerprinting technique. The specificity of enzyme restriction patterns of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is confirmed to be of practical importance in the epidemiologic study of gonorrhoea.