title: Who Has Mycobacterial Disease? A Cross Sectional Study in Agropastoral Communities in Tanzania.
abstract: To determine and describe clinical symptoms, demographic characteristics and environmental exposures as determinants of pulmonary mycobacterial diseases among patients examined for tuberculosis in agropastoral communities in Northern Tanzania.
  
  
  
  This was a cross sectional study. Sputum samples were collected from patients attending three hospitals in Tanzania, and were investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis by microscopy between November 2010 and June 2012. The patients were interviewed about background information, and potential exposure to mycobacteria.
  
  
  
  We examined 1,711 presumptive tuberculosis cases where 936 (54.2%) were males and 775 (45.3%) females. Of all the study participants, 277 (16%) were found to have sputum samples positive for mycobacteria; 228 (13%) were smear positive, 123 (7%) were culture positive and 74 (4%) were positive by both smear microscopy and culture. Of the 123 mycobacterial culture positive, 15 (12.2%) had non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Males were more likely than females to be positive for mycobacteria. Factors associated with mycobacterial disease were loss of appetite, age groups below 41 years, and being a male. Among HIV negative patients, loss of appetite, age below 20 years and being a male were associated with being mycobacterial positive. Among HIV positive patients, males and those patients with a persistently coughing family member were more likely to harbor mycobacteria.
  
  
  
  The findings in this study show that both M. tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial strains were prevalent in the study community. Some risk factors were identified. Although the reported predictors may improve screening for mycobacterial diseases, their use requires some precaution.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre, P.O. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.|University of Bergen, Centre for International Health (CIH), Postbox 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Andrew Martin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kilale
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre, P.O. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ngadaya
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre, P.O. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.|University of Bergen, Centre for International Health (CIH), Postbox 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muhumuza
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Tukuyu Centre, P.O. Box 538, Tukuyu, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Gibson Benard
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kagaruki
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre, P.O. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Yakobo Leonard
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lema
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Tukuyu Centre, P.O. Box 538, Tukuyu, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Bernard James
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ngowi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre, P.O. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Sayoki Godfrey
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mfinanga
authors.affiliation: University of Bergen, Centre for International Health (CIH), Postbox 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Sven Gudmund
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hinderaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000067565:Farmers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult