J Tapsall

Publications (7)12.67 Total impact

• Article: Global transmission of prolyliminopeptidase-negative Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains: implications for changes in diagnostic strategies.

  M Unemo, H M Palmer, T Blackmore, G Herrera, H Fredlund, A Limnios, N Nguyen, J Tapsall
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  ABSTRACT: Species confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is commonly performed with biochemical kits, rely on the activity of the enzyme prolyliminopeptidase (PIP). This enzyme has previously been considered to be almost universally present in N gonorrhoeae. However, increasing numbers of N gonorrhoeae isolates lacking PIP activity have been identified. To investigate the possibility of a widespread transmission of one or several N gonorrhoeae PIP-negative strains among several countries worldwide. PIP-negative N gonorrhoeae isolates cultured from 2001 to 2004 in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland were comprehensively characterised and compared with previous data from England and Denmark. All isolates were characterised by antibiotic susceptibility testing, serovar determination, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), opa-typing, sequencing of the entire porB gene and N gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). Most (83%) of the viable Australian isolates, and all the New Zealand and Scottish isolates were assigned serovar IB-4, with similar antibiograms, nearly identical porB1b gene sequences, identical (ST210) or highly related (ST292, ST1259) NG-MAST STs, and indistinguishable or related PFGE fingerprints as well as opa-types. The isolates showed characteristics indistinguishable or highly related to the previously described English and Danish outbreak strain. A comprehensive characterisation indicates a widespread dissemination, mainly among men who have sex with men (MSM), of indistinguishable and highly related genotypes that have evolved from a single N gonorrhoeae PIP-negative serovar IB-4 strain among several countries worldwide. An increased awareness of PIP-negative N gonorrhoeae strains is crucial and changes in the diagnostic strategies may need to be considered.
  Sexually Transmitted Infections 03/2007; 83(1):47-51. · 2.85 Impact Factor
• Article: Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in an HIV/AIDS clinic.

  D J Chan, J Tapsall
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  ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is increasing in the Pacific region. The standard antibiotic used in urban Australia is intramuscular ceftriaxone. Isolates with reduced sensitivity are being isolated; however, resistance to ceftriaxone has yet to occur. Continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the pathogen, with communication between clinic and laboratory, is needed to ensure optimal treatment of infection.
  International Journal of STD & AIDS 07/2006; 17(6):410-2. · 1.09 Impact Factor
• Article: Annual report of the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme, 1999.

  J Tapsall
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  ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (AGSP) is to monitor the antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In 1999 the AGSP examined 3,740 isolates of gonococci from all States and Territories. The rates and sites of infection and antibiotic susceptibility patterns varied considerably between regions, reflecting the considerable differences between non-urban and urban gonorrhoea in Australia. Resistance to the penicillin and quinolone groups of antibiotics was highest in urban centres. Although penicillins remained suitable for use in many parts of non-urban Australia, enhanced surveillance is required as levels of resistance increase. Endemic transmission of quinolone-resistant gonococci (QRNG) in homosexually active men increased substantially in New South Wales and Victoria where more then 90% of all QRNG were found. QRNG in other centres continued to be isolated mostly from overseas travellers and at a low frequency. All isolates remained sensitive to spectinomycin and ceftriaxone. A further increase in the number of gonococcal isolates from homosexually active men was recorded in New South Wales and Victoria. Strains examined in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria were predominantly from male patients and rectal and pharyngeal isolates were common. In other centres the male to female ratio of cases was lower, and most isolates were from the genital tract in rates similar to those occurring in previous years. The impact of non-culture based detection methods will adversely affect the ability of the AGSP to monitor trends in gonococcal disease in future years.
  Communicable diseases intelligence 06/2000; 24(5):113-7.
• Source

  Available from: Giulietta Pontivivo

  Article: Unusual cluster of mild invasive serogroup C meningococcal infection in a university college.

  M Ferson, L Young, G Hansen, J Post, J Tapsall, T Shultz, A Limnios, D Lee, P Reinbott, Y Duffy, P Robertson, P Jones, G Pontivivo, K Morgan
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and public health response to an apparent cluster of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C infection in university students in a residential college. A conventional epidemiological approach was taken, supported by routine and novel diagnostic techniques. Over the two days of 21-22 August 1997, three cases of suspected meningococcal infection were notified from a residential college complex at a university campus in the Sydney metropolitan area. Neisseria meningitidis was grown from throat swabs of all three cases, and was isolated from the blood of one case only. All three isolates were typed as C:2a:P1.5,2. Seroconversion was demonstrated by a novel method in the three cases. Rifampicin was given to all identified contacts. Forty-seven days after the index case, a 19 year old female living in the same complex was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, and identified contacts given rifampicin. When this isolate was found to be group C, it was decided to vaccinate residents of the college complex. Genotyping and serotyping (C:2a:P1.5) later revealed the fourth isolate to be distinct from isolates from Cases 1-3. In conclusion the authors note that Australia's increasing capacity to type meningococcal strains is essential to understanding the epidemiology of this disease. Furthermore, typing information is of critical importance when decisions are made regarding mass vaccination. As early antibiotic treatment may inhibit isolation of the organism, development of novel approaches to diagnosis and typing should be supported.
  Communicable diseases intelligence 10/1999; 23(10):261-4.
• Article: Annual report of the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme 1996.

  J Tapsall
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  ABSTRACT: In 1996 the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (AGSP) examined 2,753 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The source of isolates, site of infection and antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed considerable regional variation. Strains examined in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne were predominantly from male patients where rectal and pharyngeal isolates were common. Cases in other centres had a much lower male:female ratio and most were genital tract isolates. Resistance to the penicillin and quinolone groups of antibiotics was highest in Sydney and Melbourne. Gonococcal resistance to the penicillins was similar to previous years. Quinolone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (QRNG) were isolated mostly from overseas travellers. However, some local transmission of QRNG was documented in Sydney. All isolates were sensitive to spectinomycin and ceftriaxone.
  Communicable diseases intelligence 08/1997; 21(14):189-92.
• Source

  Available from: bmj.com

  Article: Arthritis in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

  K D Pile, J E Richens, R M Laurent, K Bhatia, M L Prasad, T Lupiwa, B J Hudson, J Tapsall, R McPetrie
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  ABSTRACT: Acute polyarthritis is an important cause of morbidity in many tropical countries. Classification has often been difficult, with the term tropical polyarthritis used for those in whom a diagnosis could not be made. The implication that this is a distinct entity is probably incorrect, with likely causes being septic arthritis or post-infective reactive arthritis. This study aimed to determine the types of arthritis found in 43 patients (30 men) presenting consecutively to the Goroka Base Hospital in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Gonococcal arthritis was diagnosed in eight patients (six men) on the basis of isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from the joint aspirate. In all cases the N gonorrhoeae was identified by the closed culture system on chocolate agar, but not always by routine plating. There were no specific clinical features that identified patients with a gonococcal septic arthritis. The remaining 34 patients had an undifferentiated oligoarthritis. The pattern of arthritis in men and women was of a lower limb pauciarticular arthritis with a predilection for the knee and ankle joints. A total of 30% of male patients had a history of urethral discharge and 44% of all patients had preceding diarrhoea. Arthritis was the only feature in 59% of patients and in 32% there was an associated enthesitis. In this study most patients had an oligoarthritis consistent with a reactive arthritis or a septic arthritis due to N gonorrhoeae. Broth inoculation of synovial fluid was the best method to isolate N gonorrhoeae, with standard methods for gonococcal isolation failing in some patients. It is recommended that the term 'tropical polyarthritis' is no longer used as it does not refer to a specific entity but consists of several known arthritides.
  Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 02/1993; 52(1):49-53. · 8.73 Impact Factor
• Article: A cluster of culture positive gonococcal infections but with false negative cppB gene based PCR

  G Lum, K Freeman, N L Nguyen, E A Limnios, S. M. Tabrizi, I Carter, I W Chambers, T P Sloots, D M Whiley, S M Garland, J Tapsall