title: Extensive Genetic Diversity among Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Central Province of Iran.
abstract: Human tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a significant disease in many countries. According to Iran's borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are among the 22 high burden countries around the world, this study was conducted to analyze the current molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis and survey genetic diversity of Mtb strains in Markazi Province in center of Iran. In this experimental study, 75 sputum specimens and one gastric lavage from all smear-positive TB patients admitted to the public hospitals across the Markazi Province were cultured on specific mycobacterial culture media. Genomic DNA was digested by PvuII and transferred to positively charged nylon membrane by southern blotting method and hybridization by PGRS and DR probes. Genotyping of the isolates by PGRS-RFLP and DR-RFLP displayed a wide range of genetic diversity as 25 and 26 genotypes were identified, respectively. Generally speaking, despite the relatively limited number of isolates in the study, high age of patients and also large heterogeneity found in the setting are both in opposition to active circulation of Mtb strains between patients under study either Iranian or Afghan nationals. Thus, it seems that reactivation of latent infection has had the main role in the spread of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran ; Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soleimanpour
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran.
authors.forename: Daryoush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamedi Asl
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran ; Aerobic Bacterial Research and Vaccine Production Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tadayon
authors.affiliation: Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Farazi
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran.
authors.forename: Kioomars
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soleymani
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh Sadat
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Seddighinia
authors.affiliation: PPD Tuberculin Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Karaj 3197619751, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mosavari