DETECTION OF AUTOLYSIN, PNEUMOLYSIN AND PNEUMOCOCCAL SURFACE ADHESION A GENES AMONG STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE CAUSING BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN

The aim of the present study is to assess the presence of autolysin, pneumolysin and pneumococcal surface adhesion A genes as virulence factors that may contribute in pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing bacterial meningitis in children. Non-culture tests such latex agglutination test and PCR for S.pneumoniae diagnosis should be considered for patients who need early identification of pathogens or have previously received antibiotics, or whose initial cerebrospinal fluid Gramʼs stain is negative with negative culture at(72)hrs incubation. There were (303) cases delivered their cerebrospinal fluids samples to the central public health laboratory distributed by (183) male (60.39%) and (120) female (39.60%). Seventy seven cases (25.41%) were diagnosed as bacterial meningitis; (36) cases (11.88%) as viral meningitis. S. pneumoniae was isolated from (16) cases (20.7%) of bacterial meningitis. DNA from S. pneumoniae was extracted then subjected to amplification by PCR leading to detection of autolysin and pneumolysin genes in (9) out from (16) isolate and presence of pneumococcal surface adhesion A gene in (8) out from (16) isolate.