Application of PCR-Based Fingerprinting for Detection of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria among Patients Referred to Tuberculosis Reference Center of Khuzestan Province, Iran
Abstract:
The present study was conducted to determine the frequency of NTM by application of PCR-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) among suspected tuberculosis patients. In total 150 clinical isolates from patients referred to TB reference laboratory were screened. Culture and biochemical tests were performed. The PCR-RFLP method based on amplification of a 439 bp fragment of hsp gene involving genus specific primers was performed and the PCR products were digested with HaeIII and Bst EII restriction enzymes. Of total isolates tested, 100 isolates were culture positive (66.6%). Eighty out of 88 isolates that were subjected to RFLP, showed the identical restriction patterns similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (90.9%). Eight clinical isolates (9.1%) showed different restriction patterns, six isolates identified as Mycobacterium intracellularae and two isolates were Mycobacterium gordonae I. In conclusion, RFLP as a fast, cheap and accurate technique is a valid alternative for phenotypic identification of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic mycobacteria in the routine laboratory.
A.D. Khosravi, S. Seghatoleslami and M. Hashemzadeh, 2009. Application of PCR-Based Fingerprinting for Detection of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria among Patients Referred to Tuberculosis Reference Center of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Research Journal of Microbiology, 4: 143-149.
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