Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from suspected patients of tuberculosis by conventional and molecular methods in Ilam, Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESTB is an airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The bacterium mostly infects the lungs, but many other tissues or organs can be affected. Tuberculosis (TB) kills approximately three people every minute. According to estimates, ۱۰.۶ million people fell ill with TB in ۲۰۲۰ and ۱.۶ million died from the disease in ۲۰۲۱. More than ۹۰% of new TB cases and deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries. Poverty and poor hygiene habits can weaken the immune system and raise the risk of TB. The present study was performed aiming to isolation, identification and prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cases of suspected TB.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn total, ۵۹۱ suspected cases of tuberculosis were investigated from March۲۱, ۲۰۲۲ to March۲۱, ۲۰۲۳. Genomic material was extracted from all acid-fast positive cultures. The mycobacterial identity of bacterial isolates was confirmed using a PCR assessment.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONA total of ۶ isolates were obtained from ۵۹۱ cultures submitted the laboratory of Tuberculosis Department Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran. Species identification was performed for all isolates using conventional phenotypic methods and PCR assessment targeting a ۵۴۳ bp- fragment of ۱۶Sr RNA gene, ۲۴۵ bp- fragment of IS۶۱۱۰ and RD typing.CONCLUSIONIn recent decades, various genotyping and phenotyping strategies have been used to distinguish and identify mycobacterium species. Spoligotyping and RD typing methods are widely used to investigate the epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.To conclude, in this region the prevalence of tuberculosis is lower than the global and national average. It seems that more studies like MIRU-VNTR and Spoligotyping are required to provide a reliable biogeographical map of TB in this province and Iran.