title: A first assessment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic diversity and drug-resistance patterns in twelve Caribbean territories.
abstract: With the exception of some French-speaking islands, data on tuberculosis (TB) in the Caribbean are scarce. In this study, we report a first assessment of genetic diversity of a convenience sample of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains received from twelve Caribbean territories by spoligotyping and describe their drug-resistance patterns. Of the 480 isolates, 40 (8.3%) isolates showed resistance to at least one anti-TB drug. The proportion of drug-resistant strains was significantly higher in The Bahamas (21.4%; P = 0.02), and Guyana (27.5%; P < 0.0001), while it was significantly lower in Jamaica (2.4%; P = 0.03) than in other countries of the present study. Regarding genetic diversity, 104 distinct spoligotype patterns were observed: 49 corresponded to clustered strains (2 to 93 strains per cluster), while 55 remained unclustered among which 16 patterns were not reported previously. Combining the study results with regional data retrieved from the international SITVIT2 database underlined a connection between frequency of certain M. tuberculosis phylogenetic lineages and the language spoken, suggesting historical (colonial) and ongoing links (trade, tourism, and migratory flows) with European countries with which they shared a common past.
authors.affiliation: WHO Supranational TB Reference Laboratory, Unité de la Tuberculose et des Mycobactéries, Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, 97183 Abymes, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.affiliation: Department of Para-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad And Tobago.
authors.forename: Shirematee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baboolal
authors.affiliation: WHO Supranational TB Reference Laboratory, Unité de la Tuberculose et des Mycobactéries, Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, 97183 Abymes, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9873-0279
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Streit
authors.affiliation: Department of Para-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad And Tobago.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Akpaka
authors.affiliation: WHO Supranational TB Reference Laboratory, Unité de la Tuberculose et des Mycobactéries, Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, 97183 Abymes, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: Nalin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7199-7747
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rastogi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial