Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Prevailing In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Prevailing In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Bashir Ahmad1, Muhammad Idrees1,*, Kafeel Ahmad1, Dawood Ahmad2, Sajid Ali3 and Shumaila Bashir4
ABSTRACT
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan has been known for a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). However, there is little information about the molecular characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) strains predominant in the province. Therefore, this study was planned to study the genetic diversity in the M. tuberculosis isolates isolated from clinical samples. In the current study total 794 patients were tested for suspected tuberculosis by fluorescence microscopy and GeneXpert system during the study period (2015-2016) at the Provincial TB Reference Laboratory, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Among the 794 patients studied, 170 samples gave positive results. Fifty-two Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates were randomly selected for RAPD-PCR and PCR-restriction enzyme analysis. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and M. tuberculosis H37Rv were used as reference strains. RAPD-PCR differentiated the strains and authenticated the high molecular diversity. PCR-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA) profiles of all isolates and reference strains were found to be the same. PRA is a valid alternative to phenotypic identification in a routine diagnostic laboratory. High diversity values were found in the studied area implying high population diversity of M. tuberculosis that’s being prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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April 2018
Vol. 50, Iss. 2, Pages 401-797
