BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease appears like tuberculosis infection but is resistant to primary anti-tuberculosis drugs. Hence, patients whose sputum sample tests positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and bacterial culture for several times should be assessed for colonization or infection with NTM in a damaged lung secondary to TB. In such cases, though drug-resistant TB may be adequately treated, treatment may need to be directed towards the NTM as well. In NTM therapy, the duration and choice of treatment agent is based upon the specific organism and disease extent. This study used one-step multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay for rapid differentiation of solid cultures in Ogawa medium as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and/or NTM.

METHODS

A total of 80 stocked isolates obtained from the Lung Center of the Philippines from January to December 2018 were screened for NTM in terms of growth in Ogawa medium, acid fastness, and MPT64 TB antigen test result. These were from sputum specimens of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. DNA was extracted from cultures (n=55) grown in Ogawa medium and one-step mPCR was performed to identify NTM to the species level.

RESULTS

Out of 80 samples screened, a total of 55 isolates were identified as NTM. One-step mPCR identified 12.73% (7/55) as M. abscessus, 34.55% (19/55) as M. massiliense, 1.82% (1/55) as M. kansasii, and 50.91% (28/55) were identified only up to genus Mycobacteria spp. Neither M. avium complex nor M. intracellulare was identified among the samples tested.

CONCLUSION

One-step mPCR was able to identify isolates as MTB or NTM coinciding with the initial screening using MPT64 TB antigen test. Multiplex PCR has given a more specific identificati on to the species level. The use of mPCR in identifying MTB and clinically significant NTM’s is suitable for the adequate treatment of mycobacterial infection.

Human ; Bacteria ; Multiplex Pcr ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycobacteria ; Mycobacterium ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-resistant

Background: The multiplex polymerase chain reaction can rapidly differentiate taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts.\r\n', u'Objective: The study aimed to identify taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts in human by using multiplex PCR\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The multiplex PCR was applied by using the 4 forward and one reverse primer to amplify the target gene cytochrome c oxydase subunit I (COXI) of the Taenia spp in human. T\r\n', u'Results:4 molecular sizes of PCR products were appeared: 269 bp,720 bp, 827 bp, 984 bp. Seventy six samples including 65 flat worms and 11 cysticercose cysts which collected from the patients who are living in 19 different provinces and cities of Northern part of Viet Nam and treated in the clinic of NIMPE were examined. Of 65 flat worms analyzed 35 samples were T.asiatica (58.46%), 27 were T.saginata (41.54%). All 11 cysticercose cysts were T.solium (100%). \r\n', u'Conclusion: The result also indicated that some time 3 Taenia species were found at the same area. A remarkable difference of infection rate was found between men and women, also adults and children. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Taenia spp adults ; cysticercose cysts ; multiplex PCR