title: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in rural Jiangsu, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diagnosis and interventional treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) are important components in tuberculosis control. But systematic studies regarding the epidemic of LTBI are still rare in China. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with LTBI based on the results of a domestic TB-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assay (TB-IGRA) in rural Jiangsu, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of subjects registered in eight villages in Jiangsu, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 2012 in eight villages. After recruitment, individuals with active TB or a history of TB were excluded. The TB-IGRA was performed for diagnosis of LTBI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2169 of 2185 subjects met the requirement and were analysed in this study. 524 (24.3%) had a positive result, and positive rate gradually increased with age (P for trend <0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that increasing age, male gender and a history of TB exposure were risk factors associated with LTBI. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination did not reduce the risk of TB infection in participants (aged ≥20 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study demonstrate that the prevalence of LTBI in China might be overestimated by tuberculin skin test compared with IFN-γ release assay (IGRA). The degree of TB exposure is related to Mycobacterium tubercuium (MTB) infection, and BCG vaccination offers little protection against MTB infection in adults. The early and effective detection and treatment of active TB patients, and screening and intervention for LTBI patients with a high risk of developing active TB could be cost-effective methods for TB control in China.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: liuyongliang6@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: huangshoujie@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Dongtai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China. Electronic address: dtjhm008@163.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: xiongjunhui@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Dongtai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China. Electronic address: dtcdcwyj@126.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: omz@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Dongtai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China. Electronic address: dtcdccjpkz@126.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Dongtai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China. Electronic address: ycl000118@163.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Dongtai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, 224000, PR China. Electronic address: wangzhongze54@126.com.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: sxge@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, PR China. Electronic address: nsxia@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058872:Epidemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine
keywords: BCG; Interferon-γ release assay; Latent; Tuberculosis