The Recent-Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains among Iranian and Afghan Relapse Cases: a DNA-fingerprinting using RFLP and spoligotyping

2008

Transmission of Tuberculosis Strains in Iran and Afghanistan

Sample size: 258 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Parissa-Farnia, Masjedi Mohammad Reza, Varahram Mohammad, Mirsaeidi Mehdi, Ahmadi Mojtaba, Khazampour Mehdi, Tabarsi Payam, Baghei Parvaneh, Marjane Mojtaba, Bahadori Muslam, Zarifi Abolhasan Zia, Velayati Ali Akbar

Primary Institution: Mycobacteriology Research Centre, Iranian National Reference TB Laboratory, National Research Institute Of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD)

Hypothesis

This study evaluates the rate of reactivation versus recent transmission of tuberculosis among Iranian and Afghan relapse cases.

Conclusion

Reactivation of a previous infection is the more probable cause of tuberculosis recurrence, although there is evidence of intra-community transmission between Iranian and Afghan cases.

Supporting Evidence

28% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB).
52% of MDR-TB cases were isolated from Afghan patients.
41% of intra-community transmissions were between Iranian and Afghan patients.

Takeaway

The study found that most people who get tuberculosis again are getting it from an old infection rather than from someone else, but some new infections are happening between Iranians and Afghans.