[Interest of typing methods to study Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains.]

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of Diphtheria. This bacteria circulates throughout the world. Recently, two outbreaks occurred in New independent states (Russia, Ukraine...) and Algeria. Routine technics permit to study the strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae : biotype, antibiotype, toxin gene detection. However, molecular biological tests (ribotyping, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis) are necessary to characterize these strains in the space and the time. The studies with international laboratories exchanges are recents and have permitted first results concerning the molecular epidemiology of C. diphtheriae strains.