Comparison of the molecular characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from children across different regions of China

Previous molecular characterization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in China focused only on one or two cities. In this study, we characterized 835 samples from patients suspected to be infected with M. pneumoniae; these samples were collected in 2016 from pediatric patients from different regions of China. Multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), P1-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, and sequencing of the domain V of 23S rRNA were performed to compare genotype distribution across different locations. Two-hundred-and-thirteen samples tested positive for M. pneumoniae by PCR. P1 types were identified in 154 samples: 78.6% were type I and 21.4% were type II. Type I was the most prevalent genotype in five locations, except Nanjing where type II was the most common type (p < 0.01). Five distinct MLVA types were identified in the 172 samples. Genotype M4-5-7-2 was predominant at all locations, except Nanjing where type 3-5-6-2 was the most common (p < 0.01). Macrolide resistance-associated mutations were identified in 186 (76.3%) samples. The resistance rate differed with the location. This study showed that genotypes and macrolide resistance rate differed across China. The most prevalent genotype in China remains M4-5-7-2/P1-1. The resistance rate decreased, along with changes to the M4-5-7-2 genotype.