Eurosurveillance - Volume 31, Issue 4, 29 January 2026

Microbiological surveillance during pregnancy is important for better neonatal outcomes.

We aimed to assess IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, parvovirus B19, Treponema pallidum, rubella virus and cytomegalovirus in women of fertile age (16–45 years) in Italy and investigate factors associated with the presence of antibodies.

We collected data from clinical microbiology laboratories on test results for IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii, parvovirus B19, T. pallidum, rubella virus and cytomegalovirus between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020. Serological tests, like IgG avidity for T. gondii and cytomegalovirus, non-treponemal tests for T. pallidum and molecular tests for parvovirus B19 and rubella virus were considered as confirmatory tests for acute infections. We investigated associations between presence of antibodies with age, nationality and geographic area of residence.

Thirty-two laboratories submitted test results on 342,095 women. The overall weighted proportion of IgG antibodies was 13,700 of 111,580 (13%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 12–14) for women tested for T. gondii, 3,298 of 5,138 (65%; 95% CI: 60–69) for parvovirus B19, 63,828 of 69,865 (87%; 95% CI: 85–88) for rubella virus and 45,558 of 71,013 (66%; 95% CI: 64–68) for cytomegalovirus. For T. pallidum, 889 of 81,401 (1%; 95% CI: 1–1) of treponemal tests were positive. Overall, we estimated 530 acute infections with T. gondii, 33 with parvovirus and 449 with cytomegalovirus.

These findings underline the need for screening for congenital infections in fertile women.

Dual penicillin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant Neisseria meningitidis causing invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) have recently emerged in association with sequence type (ST) 3587, harbouring ROB-1 β-lactamase (bla ROB-1) and a mutated DNA gyrase (gyrA). These strains pose a threat to current antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis.

We aimed to characterise the first dual-resistant N. meningitidis ST-3587 isolates harbouring bla ROB-1 and a mutated gyrA identified in Spain.

Three N. meningitidis isolates encoding bla ROB-1 were identified in 2024. They were characterised by whole genome sequencing to determine capsular genogroups, ST and genetic antimicrobial resistance markers. Dated phylogenetic analysis was performed alongside global ST-3587 strains.

The three bla ROB-1-encoding isolates belonged to ST-3587, genogroup Y, harboured a T91I mutation in gyrA and showed resistance to penicillin and ciprofloxacin. These isolates were obtained from urethral, oropharyngeal and blood samples, each from a different patient. According to the dated phylogenetic analysis of ST-3587 and the presence of bla ROB-1, two clades were defined: clade I and clade II. Within clade II, subclade II.I was identified, comprising isolates which, in addition to bla ROB-1, carried the T91I mutation in gyrA. This subclade included the three Spanish isolates, which exhibited close genetic relatedness.

This study documents the emergence of N. meningitidis ST-3587 with dual resistance in Europe, including a documented urogenital infection by this lineage. Continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in N. meningitidis, including non-invasive cases, is crucial for timely public health responses and effective IMD prevention strategies.